‘Unruly behaviour’: Trinamool’s Derek O’Brien suspended from Rajya Sabha for rest of session

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar asked the Opposition MP to leave the House, having already accused him of ‘theatrics’ during a debate Monday.

File photo of TMC MP Derek O'Brien speaking in parliament | ANI

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar on Tuesday suspended Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien for the rest of the Monsoon Session for “unruly behaviour”.

Leader of the House Piyush Goyal had moved a motion for O’Brien’s suspension “for continuously disturbing the proceedings of the House, disobeying the Chair… unbecoming of a member of the Rajya Sabha”.

TMC MP in Rajya Sabha Derek O'Brien suspended for the remainder of the current Parliament session "for unruly behaviour unbecoming of a Member of Rajya Sabha."

Leader of the House Piyush Goyal moved a motion for his suspension "for continuously disturbing the proceedings of the… https://t.co/cWFJvhRmYt pic.twitter.com/o6sU758QiX

— ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2023

Dhankar asked the Opposition MP to sit down several times before suspending him.

The suspension came on a day when the Lok Sabha will discuss a no-confidence motion brought by the Opposition, in order to force a debate on Manipur, and a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On Monday, Dhankar had accused Derek O’Brien of “theatrics” during a heated discussion on the Delhi services Bill — which cleared the Rajya Sabha later that evening.

Dhankhar’s outburst came after the TMC member refused to confine his speech to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and unleashed a litany of allegations against the central government.

“This has become your habit. You are doing this as part of a strategy. You think you will enjoy publicity outside. You ravaged this House. Sit down,” the chairman told O’Brien on Monday.

“Are you here for dramatics, theatrics, is it your oath… such outsmarting never pays… Here is a member who is here for personal publicity. I take strong note of this,” a visibly upset Dhankhar said.

The Chair also expunged certain remarks from the TMC member’s speech.

Participating in the debate, O’Brien said, “I stand here to strongly oppose this Bill. Mr Narendra Modi is a child of federalism. He was a chief minister before coming to Delhi.” He asked why would a “child of democracy mutilate democracy”.