High drama in Rajya Sabha.
Trinamool Congress (TMC), which is facing the Congress-Left combine in the West Bengal assembly election, on Monday sought to corner the Congress in Rajya Sabha by raising the AgustaWestland helicopter issue and wanting to know who the 'Gandhi' and 'AP' are the alleged bribe seekers in the deal. While TMC wanted to draw attention to the case, it finally led to one of their MPs being expelled from the Rajya Sabha for a day for breaking rules.
Here's how it happened:
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Sukhendu Shekhar Roy (TMC) wanted to know who has taken bribe in the deal to buy 12 VVIP helicopters. "Defence Minister has to give a statement. Why is the government silent," he asked. "Who is this AP (named as alleged bribe taker in the deal)? Who is Gandhi? Who is Shashikant."
He wanted the Defence Minister to make a statement on the issue after suspending regular business and matter discussed. "Government has to disclose the identity (of bribe takers)," he said.
Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said there is no rule for suspension of business during Zero Hour and disallowed his notice.
With Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari asking Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sukhendu Sekhar Roy to leave the Upper House for the day, Congress MP and former union minister Renuka Chowdhury on Monday asked the lawmakers to maintain restraint so that such a situation does not arise in the future.
"If the members do not follow what he says then he takes actions at times. It will be better if we be in our limits so that such a situation does not arise," she told ANI outside the Parliament. Ansari invoked rule 255 against the TMC MP, asking him to leave the Rajya Sabha for misbehaviour.
Roy repeatedly demanded that Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar make an urgent statement on the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal. Raising objection to Ansari's decision, the TMC members staged a walkout from the Upper House after Roy was asked to leave for the day.
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