Rajya Sabha: TMC's Derek O'Brien hurls book, suspended for remainder of Winter Session

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 21

Trinamool Congress leader in Rajya Sabha Derek O Brien became the 13th opposition MP to be suspended on Tuesday on grounds of grave misconduct after presiding officer Sasmit Patra named him following a suspension motion by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan.

Derek O Brien was suspended for the remainder of the winter session, which is likely to end on December 23.

“I would like to draw the attention of the House to the gross misconduct of TMC floor leader Derek O Brien. He raised a point of order to which the deputy chairman responded. A little later he flung the rule book furiously in the direction of the chair. It could have hit the chair or secretary general or officials sitting at the table. Derek O’Brien resorted to grave misconduct and gross violation of rules of the house and norms of etiquette and conduct,” Presiding officer Sasmit Patra named Brien thereby suspending him under related rules.

Patra said being a floor leader, O’Brien, instead of setting high standards of conduct, set a bad example and in the process denigrated the dignity and stature of the house.

“This act is highly condemnable,” the Chair added, after MoS Muraleedharan in a motion said, “This House resolves to suspend Derek O Brien from the services of the House for the remaining part of the current session for his unruly and contemptuous behaviour unbecoming of a member of Rajya Sabha by brazenly throwing the Rajya Sabha rule towards the Chair during the discussions on the election Laws Amendment Bill 2021 on December 21 thereby bringing disrepute and shame to the august House”.

Derek tweeted later, “The last time I got suspended from RS was when the government was bulldozing the farm laws. We all know what happened after that. Today, I was suspended while protesting against BJP making a mockery of Parliament and bulldozing the Election Laws Bill. Hope this Bill too will be repealed soon”.

Suspension of 12 opposition MPs has disrupted the RS since day one of the session on November 29 when they were suspended for the entire winter session.

Leader of RS Piyush Goyal again said on Tuesday that suspensions could only be revoked if the erring MPs apologize to the Chair for misconduct, as has happened in the past.