Trinamool Congress MP Dr Santanu Sen was on Friday suspended from Rajya Sabha for the remaining period of Parliament's Monsoon Session, a day after he snatched papers from Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and tore those in the House.
No business was transacted in the House during the day, as Opposition parties demanded an immediate discussion on Pegasus snooping episode and trooped to the Well of the House at regular intervals leading to three adjournments before the Chair called it a day in the afternoon. Lok Sabha also witnessed similar scenes on Pegasus and adjourned for the day at noon.
The motion to suspend Sen was moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan soon after Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said that the proceedings of the House "hit a new low" with the episode and it "did not cover the world’s largest democracy with glory".
"Should the members of Parliament be a party to degrading the country’s standing on the world stage?" he asked just before Muraleedharan moved the motion, which was passed by voice vote.
Trinamool Congress MPs objected to it, saying the motion was not listed in the agenda and Sen or his party colleagues did not get an opportunity to present their version. However, Naidu said he had approved it to be added to the list and it was a "question of dignity of the House".
Trinamool Rajya Sabha floor leader Derek O'Brien raised the issue of Sen being threatened by a minister, but Naidu pointed out that it happened after the House was adjourned.
As Trinamool Congress continued to raise the issue, Congress and other Opposition parties raised the Pegasus issue with several members rushing to the Well of the House, prompting Naidu to adjourn the House till 12 noon.
According to a convention, sources said, no business is transacted in the Rajya Sabha if a suspended member continues to be present in the House.
When the House re-assembled, Sen refused to leave the House despite repeated appeals from Deputy Chairman Harivansh. This again led to the adjournment of proceedings till 12:30 pm. Similar scenes were witnessed when the House proceedings began again, leading to adjournment till 2:30 pm.
At 2:30 pm, when the House re-assembled, Sen was not in the House while Opposition MPs raised the Pegasus issue. Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said he has given a notice for suspending the business of the House but Vice Chairman Bhubaneswar Kalita refused permission saying a statement has already been made.
As Opposition MPs rushed to the Well of the House, Kalita adjourned the House till Monday 11 pm.
Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha floor leader Derek O'Brien tweeted, "BJP have learnt little about Trinamool even after being thrashed in elections. We are a pro-people party. Unlike you, we fight for people’s rights from the roadside to Parliament. You can't scare us. We don’t hack the phones of colleagues and opponents. BJ(P) now the Pegasus party."