15 MPs suspended for disrupting parliament proceedings on security breach

New Delhi: At least Fifteen opposition MPs ---fourteen from Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha were suspended on Thursday for the remaining part of the winter session for disregarding the Chair's direction and disrupting the house proceedings over the issue of Security breach.

Among those suspended from the lower house include DMK's Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and Congress Manickam Tagore, Benny Behanan, VK Sreekandan, Mohammad Jawed, PR Natarajan, K Subbarayan, SR Parthiban, S Venkatesan, Dean Kuriakose, Hibi Eden, TN. Prathapan, Jothimani Sennimalai and Ramya Haridas.

Earlier in the day, TMC member Derek O'Brien was suspended from the Rajya Sabha for the remaining period of Winter session for "unruly behaviour" and "misconduct".

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi moved the resolution in the Lok Sabha to suspend the five MPs.

Later, another nine MPs were suspended for the remainder of the ongoing session.

BJD MP from Cuttack Bhartruhari Mahtab was chairing the proceedings when the resolution was adopted.

Speaking while moving in motion, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said "We all agree that the unfortunate incident which occurred yesterday was a serious incident concerning the safety and the security of honourable members of parliament".

After the suspension of MPs, TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said , "The INDIA alliance wanted the Union Home Minister to come to the Parliament, give a statement and then a discussion should happen".

"The government has given no statement on the issue and this only proves that the security arrangements in the new Parliament are not good," he added.

Kanimozhi, who is among the suspended MPs, accused the government of sparing Pratap Simha but expelled Mahua Moitra "without even the inquiry being completed". (UNI)