Govt likely to seek suspension of TMC MP for Parl ruckus

NEW DELHI: The Centre is likely to move a motion in Rajya Sabha on Friday seeking suspension of TMC MP Shantanu Sen for the remaining part of the monsoon session on charges for snatching papers from Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the House on Thursday.
According to government sources, junior parliamentary affairs minister V Muraleedharan will move the motion under Rule 256 of Rajya Sabha Rules to seek suspension of the TMC MP. Earlier, BJP slammed the behaviour of the MP, calling it against “constitutional ethics” and “condemnable” even as Sen accused Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri of “physically threatening and abusing him” on the floor of House after it was adjourned. “Today the way the TMC MPs behaved with Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw ji was against democratic values and condemnable. TMC has a long history of working against the dignity of Parliament. Making noise, tearing paper is their culture. BJP strongly opposes this,” BJP president J P Nadda said. After the House was adjourned, Sen accused Puri of misbehaviour and told the media, “He was about to assault me, he threatened me, used filthy language. I was surrounded by Puri and other members from the treasury benches... this is very unfortunate.” TMC chief whip Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said the party has complained to the deputy chairperson on the issue. At a presser, Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi condemned the incident in RS and said Congress and TMC have “stooped to a new low”