TMC MP Derek O’Brien suspended from Rajya Sabha for the remaining session, following showdown over demand of discussion on Manipur under rule 267

TMC Member of Parliament Derek O’Brien has been suspended from Rajya Sabha for the remainder of the ongoing Monsoon Session, third MP to encounter suspension from parliament this season after the two MPs from Aam Aadmi Party - Sanjay Singh and Sushil Kumar Rinku. This following a ruckus inside the house over the demand for discussion by opposition on the ongoing crisis in Manipur under the rule 267. O’Brien was suspended because of “unruly behaviour and disregarding the directions of the Chair”, as was announced by Jagdeep Dhankar, Rajya Sabha chairman.

“I have received 51 notices under rule 267. Most of the members have demanded discussion on the ongoing situation in Manipur. The discussion has been allowed long back. But the notices can’t be accepted since they are against the rule and my ruling”, the chairman was heard saying that led to the face off between Dhankar and O’Brien. Heated exchange between Derek O’Brien and Rajya Sabha chairman was witnessed, about 20 minutes after the session started for the day.

O’Brien raised a point of order, insisted a discussion on Manipur but under the rule 267, defying the chairman’s announcement that all the 51 notices have been rejected. “We want a discussion on Manipur but not the way BJP wants” said Derek O’Brien from his chair and insisted once again that “on page 92 of the rule book the rule of 267 is mentioned” under which they want a discussion on the ongoing violence in Manipur.

Chairman Dhankar, visibly livid, warned the house that he will take tough call if the order was breached and allowed a motion be moved to suspend Derek O’Brien from the house. The leader of the house, Piyush Goyal moved the motion claiming that the TMC MP has been “continuously and willfully disturbing the house”. Goyal later was handed over a paper, almost immediately from where he read “for his unruly behaviour, unbecoming of a member of Rajya Sabha…for shouting slogans from the well of the house”, the TMC MP be suspended for the remainder of the monsoon session. Chaos broke out inside the house and Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar asked Derek O’Brien to leave the house, while confirming his suspension for the remaining monsoon session.