12 Opposition MPs Suspended For "Violent Behaviour" In Monsoon Session

New Delhi: Twelve opposition MPs from Rajya Sabha have been suspended from parliament's Winter Session for the shocking violence on the last day of the Monsoon Session. The opposition has condemned the suspension, saying it is against the

The suspension motion said the MPs had willingly committed "unprecedented acts of misconduct, contemptuous, violent and unruly behaviour and intentional attacks on the security personnel".

The list of suspended MPs includes Shiv Sena's Priyanka Chaturvedi and Anil Desai, Trinamool Congress's Dola Sen and Shanta Chhetri CPM's Elamaram Kareem and six Congress leaders.

In a joint statement, the opposition said the suspension was "unwarranted and undemocratic" and that the floor leaders of the parties will have a strategy meet tomorrow.  The letter, however, was not signed by the Trinamool Congress, which is skipping today's opposition meet as well.

There is no precedent on action being taken against MPs for their doings in a previous session. The Rule 256, under which they have been suspended, says an MP can be suspended "for a period not exceeding the remainder of the session".

Pointing out the rule, Rashtriya Janata Dal's Manoj Jha said if the suspension is not withdrawn the opposition will boycott the whole of Winter Session.

The chaotic Monsoon session – where the government and the opposition were at loggerheads over demands to discuss the Pegasus spyware issue -- had concluded on August 11 amid shocking violence and allegations of manhandling of women.

The house had erupted as the General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Amendment Bill was passed despite demands to refer it to a select committee.  CCTV footage of the proceedings showed opposition members jostling security personnel inside the Rajya Sabha. MPs armed with black flags were seen climbing tables and scattering files and documents.

While the government accused the opposition of manhandling women marshals, the opposition, in a joint statement, alleged that outsiders were "brought in to manhandle opposition leaders and members, including women MPs".

The government also denied opposition claims of "outsiders" being brought in and the matter was finally referred to a special committee of MPs for investigation. The Congress, however, distanced itself from any committee, saying an investigation would comprise an attempt to bully MPs into silence.

The security report from the Rajya Sabha said one MP mahandled and "severely choked the neck of a male marshal and dragged him in order to break the security cordon". It also said a woman marshal was "pulled and dragged" by women MPs and assaulted in the Well of the House.