Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Thursday suspended Telegu Desam Party (TDP) MPs under rule 374A, news agency ANI reported. Further, the House has been adjourned till 2 PM. After the house opened, Rahul Gandhi started questioning on Rafale.
Soon after the House assembled for the day, the AIADMK and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) members trooped near the Speaker’s podium and shouted slogans on their demands.
The AIADMK members were demanding the withdrawal of the proposal to construct a dam across the Cauvery river at Mekadatu, while the TDP raised several issues related to their demand for special status for Andhra Pradesh.
Amid the din, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan tried to conduct the Question Hour.
Some agitating AIADMK members threw some torn papers in the air.
Mahajan warned the protesting members not to do so but they did not relent.
“This is not fair. You should not be in the well. Please go to your seats otherwise I will name all of you,” Mahajan said.
Mahajan tried to conduct the proceedings but the protest continued, forcing her to adjourn the House till 12 PM then.
What is Rule 374 (A)?
Notwithstanding anything contained in Rules 373 and 374, in the event of grave disorder occasioned by a member coming into the well of the House or abusing the Rules of the House, persistently and willfully obstructing its business by shouting slogans or otherwise, such member shall, on being named by the Speaker, stand automatically suspended from the service of the House for five consecutive sittings or the remainder of the session, whichever is less.
The previous LS had seen then Speaker Meira Kumar suspend 16 members from Telangana in February 2014 under the same rule.
