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AAP MP Raghav Chadha has questioned the chair’s decision to suspend fellow lawmaker Sanjay Singh from the Rajya Sabha for the remainder of the monsoon session
NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday reiterated its demand for a division of votes on the motion which suspended its senior lawmaker Sanjay Singh from the Rajya Sabha for the remainder of the monsoon session a day earlier.
Singh was suspended by chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday for approaching the chair without permission during opposition INDIA’s protest over the Manipur riots.
Speaking in the upper House of parliament, AAP MP Raghav Chadha cited Rules 255 and 256 of the General Rules of Procedure of the Rajya Sabha to demand the division of votes to maintain transparency in the decision of the chair.
“I seek a division of votes to address the matter of his (Singh’s) suspension transparently. The numbers at the time of seeking division were strongly stacked against the treasury benches, but unfortunately the demand for division of votes declined,” he told chairman Dhankhar.
READ MORE: Ready for debate on Manipur riots in parliament: Govt to opposition
Rule 256 deals with rules related to the suspension of a member of the Rajya Sabha.
Addressing media persons later at parliament complex, Chadha called Singh’s suspension “unprecedented”. “It is unprecedented in Parliament where a Rajya Sabha MP was suspended for raising questions about a very important issue of the country,” he said.
He said that the suspension of any MP for the entire session is only done under special circumstances. “This is done when that MP has committed a violent act inside the Parliament or has torn a resolution of the Parliament and thrown it towards the chairman’s chair or has hurt the dignity of the parliament by any of his activities. But it is very unfortunate that our Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh has been suspended from the entire session just for going near the chair and asking questions.”
The AAP MP further said that the incident in Manipur is not just a state’s issue but a matter related to national security. Therefore, there is a need for a detailed and special discussion on this issue in the parliament, he added.
READ MORE: Introduction of Delhi ordinance in Rajya Sabha is impermissible: Raghav Chadha
He said that the violence taking place in Manipur has started affecting the neighbouring states as well – referring to reports of people belonging to the Meiti community leaving neighbouring Mizoram following threats from certain militant groups. “If this matter is not resolved soon, then it can become a threat to the entire North-East states,” he remarked.
Launching an attack on the BJP-led Central government, Chadha said, “The government has proved to be a complete failure in maintaining peace and order. The law and order situation has gone beyond the control of the government. Therefore, the central government should immediately dismiss the Biren Singh government of Manipur and impose the President’s rule there.”
Since the monsoon session started on July 20, both Houses of parliament have been marred by disruptions and sloganeering by the united opposition which demands a statement of PM Narendra Modi over the Manipur riots which has claimed more than 100 lives and displaced thousands.
