Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh has been suspended for the remaining duration of the Monsoon session of Parliament. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar took the call during the Opposition parties’ protest in the House over the Manipur video incident.

The Opposition parties were protesting against the incident, in which two women in Manipur’s Kangpokpi were seen being paraded naked on May 4, a day after violence broke out in the Northeastern state. The Opposition was demanding a statement from the Prime Minister in the House on the Manipur issue.

Leader of the House Piyush Goyal moved the motion to suspend him, which was adopted by the House by voice vote. He was suspended from Rajya Sabha for the remaining session for his “unruly behaviour”.

Before the motion was moved, Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar named Sanjay Singh for his “unruly behaviour” and cautioned him.

Soon after suspending Sanjay Singh, the chairman adjourned the proceedings till 2pm as Opposition members continued to create uproar in the House.

What happened ?

When the House met at 12 noon, Opposition members were on their feet raising slogans and demanding that the Prime Minister make a statement in the House on Manipur.

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 Sanjay 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, Jagdeep Dhankhar said, “I name Sanjay Singh”.

Soon, Piyush Goyal got up and said he wanted to move a motion to suspend Sanjay 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,” Piyush Goyal said, urging the chair to take action against Sanjay Singh.

As soon as the chair allowed Piyush 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 voice vote.

“Sanjay Singh is suspended as a member during the entire session of this House,” the chairman announced.

Reacting to his suspension from Rajya Sabha, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “If Sanjay Singh is suspended for raising his voice for the truth, then we will not be upset. Our legal team will look into this matter, but this is unfortunate.”