New Delhi: As Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh was on Monday suspended from the Rajya Sabha, his party colleague Raghav Chadha said that the suspension is 'against the spirit of democracy'. Singh was suspended for the remaining duration of the Monsoon session for repeatedly 'violating' the directives of the chair. Leader of the House Piyush Goyal moved the motion to suspend him, which was adopted by the House by voice vote.
Speaking to the news agency ANI, AAP MP Raghav Chadha said that 'it is very unfortunate' that Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar suspended Sanjay Singh.
"This is not right... It is against the spirit of democracy," he said, adding that after the House was adjourned, he went to the chairman and requested him to revoke the suspension.
"The chairman should talk to the MPs. and have healthy discussions," the AAP's Rajya Sabha MP said.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh suspended from Rajya Sabha for Monsoon session
AAP MP Sanjay Singh was on Monday suspended from the Rajya Sabha for the remaining duration of the Monsoon session for repeatedly 'violating' the directives of the chair.
Before the motion to suspend him was moved by Leader of the House Piyush Goyal, Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar named Singh for his 'unruly behaviour' and cautioned him.
When the House met at 12 noon, Opposition members were on their feet raising slogans and demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi make a statement in the House on Manipur violence.
Amid uproar by Opposition members, the chairman announced that the Question Hour will be taken up. The Question Hour continued for a few minutes amid the din, when Singh moved into the well and pointed out at the chairman.
He was first asked to go back to his seat. When he did not, Dhankhar said, "I name Sanjay Singh".
Soon, Goyal got up and said he wanted to move a motion to suspend Singh.
"This kind of behaviour and disturbing the House is completely against the ethics and rules of the House. The government wants to move a motion to suspend Sanjay Singh," Goyal said, urging the chair to take action against Singh.
As soon as the chair allowed Goyal to move the motion, he said, "I move the motion that Sanjay Singh, who has been named by the chair, be hereby suspended from the rest of the duration of the session until the last day of this current session."
The chairman said, "The motion is that Sanjay Singh is suspended for the entire duration of this session having repeatedly violated the directives of the chair" and asked the House if it approved it.
The House approved the motion by raising hands and with a voice vote.
"Sanjay Singh is suspended as a member during the entire session of this House," the chairman announced.
Soon after suspending Singh, the chairman adjourned the proceedings till 2 PM as Opposition members continued to create uproar in the House.
