Derek O’Brien suspended from Rajya Sabha, here’s why

Derek O’Brien, Rajya Sabha MP of the Trinamool Congress, was suspended by Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday for the balance of the current Monsoon session of Parliament “for unruly behavior unbecoming of a Member of Rajya Sabha.”

Piyush Goyal , the leader of the House moved a motion for his suspension “for continuously disturbing the proceedings of the House, disobeying the Chair and continuously creating the disturbance in the House.”

Following the suspension order, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 12 noon. After the House took up the stated agenda, Dhankhar referred to the opposition parties’ demand for a discussion on the Manipur situation, saying it had been on the schedule but had not been fulfilled.

Goyal stated that he will verify the availability of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and that if opposition members are agreeable, the discussion can take place at 12 p.m.

The chairman stated that he had mentioned that the debate on the Manipur situation may last considerably longer than two and a half hours, and that the administration and the home minister had signaled their willingness to do so.

O’Brien rose to make a point of order. The chair warned him not to say anything else besides the point of order. The Trinamool Congress member appears to have referred to the opposing parties’ notices for debate under Rule 267.