Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday suspended Congress MP Rajani Ashokrao Patil for the remainder of the current Budget Session for filming House proceedings.
Dhankhar, who had earlier in the day indicated that action would be taken against those who had filmed a ruckus during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on Thursday, asked leaders of political parties to express their views on the issue.
Dhankar said, “In the public domain yesterday, on Twitter, there was the dissemination of a video relating to proceedings of this House. I took a serious view of it and did all that was required. As a matter of principle and to keep the sanctity of Parliament, no outside agency’s involvement could be sought.”
He further said, “The entire matter will be probed by the Privileges Committee and till we have the benefit of the recommendation of the Privileges Committee for consideration of this august House, Dr. Rajani Ashokrao Patil is suspended for the current session.”
The budget session of Parliament commenced on January 31 and the first part of the session will conclude on February 13. The second part of the session will be held from March 13 to April 6. Raising the matter in the House, Leader of the House Piyush Goyal said they are seeing videos recorded in the House showing senior Members of Parliament unauthorisedly being recorded.
“An unfortunate incident happened yesterday. It has been found that on social media we’re seeing videos recorded in this august House showing senior Members of Parliament unauthorisedly being recorded. It has been demonstrated and distributed through social media,” Goyal said.
“Even though it is showing Opposition Members in poor light, I think any such action done by any Member is something of very serious concern. MPs have already complained to you about this incident. They had requested you to have the matter investigated and examined,” the minister said.
