JOIN USLok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Friday suspended 12 MPs as their persistent protests against the move to carve out a separate Telangana state from Andhra Pradesh paralysed House proceedings ever since the commencement of the monsoon session on August 5.
Four of the MPs are from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and eight from the Congress.
Deputy Chairman P J Kurien also threatened to suspend two TDP MPs on Friday for disrupting proceedings of the Upper House. Strong protests by Trinamool Congress and AIADMK members prevented him from suspending the MPs.
“I name you under Rule 374 (A),” the Lok Sabha Speaker told the 12 MPs after reading out their names. “You may forthwith withdraw from the precincts of the House,” she added, before adjourning the Lok Sabha for the day.
Rule 374 (A) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha empowers the Speaker to name members resorting to “grave disorder” in the House.
“…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 members shall, on being named by Speaker, stand automatically suspended from the service of the House for five consecutive sittings or the remainder of the session, whichever is less,” states the rule.
It also says that the House may anytime resolve to terminate the suspension.
Four TDP MPs trooped into the well of the Lok Sabha soon after it assembled on Friday.
They raised slogans seeking justice and waved placards denouncing the proposed division of Andhra Pradesh. Eight Congress MPs, who are also opposed to the creation of Telangana, came up to the isle of the Treasury Benches.
The Speaker had to adjourn the Lok Sabha twice, till noon for the first time and again till 12:30 pm. The House, however, continued to witness the same scene, even when it reassembled after repeated adjournments. The Speaker finally acted against the 12 protesting MPs.