NEW DELHI: Congress MP Rajani Ashokrao Patil was suspended from the Rajya Sabha for the remainder of the Budget session for videographing the proceedings of the House that found their way into the public domain. The disciplinary action was recommended by RS chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar after Patil posted a video on Twitter where Opposition MPs were seen protesting PM Modi’s speech on Thursday.
“Rajani Patil engaged in this unwholesome activity and what has been seen is a matter that must engage our attention,” Dhankhar said. He said the matter will be probed by the Privileges Committee. The decision was taken in view of the transgression of the directions given by the chairman on July 28. 2022, which read, “It was brought to my notice that some members, in spite of clear instructions and warning, have tried to film the proceedings of the House and then give it to others. Such actions are totally prohibited. If anybody is found in possession of such things, he will be found guilty and action will be taken against him.”
The order states that the RS chairman has followed the procedure of the suspension of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in 2016, who was an AAP MP then. Mann was suspended from the winter session after he was found guilty over the video-recording of the Parliament’s security structure by a Parliamentary panel, headed by BJP Lok Sabha MP Kirit Somaiya.
Though the BJP members’ demanded Patil’s suspension, Congress members alleged that the coverage by Rajya Sabha TV of the debate in the House was ‘partial’ and asked the Chairman not to take any disciplinary action against her.