New Delhi: Congress's leader in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, was suspended from the House today for allegedly attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and disturbing the ministers. This was a first time the leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha has got a suspension order. The matter will be referred to a Privileges Committee, sources said.
The motion for Mr Chowdhury's suspension was moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi.
"This House having taken the serious note of the gross, deliberate and repeated misconduct of Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in utter disregard to the House and authority of Chair resolves that the matter of his misconduct be referred to Committee of Privileges of the House for the further investigation and report to the House and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury be suspended from the service of the House till the Committee submits its report," he said.
The resolution was adopted by voice vote.
Mr Chowdhury later told reporters that he had not meant to insult PM Modi."I didn't mean to offend anyone. I have not said anything wrong" he said.
"Modi ji is sitting 'nirav' on Manipur issue, which means sitting silent. 'Nirav' means to be silent. My intention was not to insult PM Modi," he said. "PM Modi did not feel that he was insulted, his darbaris (courtiers) felt so and brought this proposal against me. I came to know that (the matter) has been referred to the privileges committee and I have been suspended till then," he said.
The Congress called the action "undemocratic".
Congress whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore said, "First time for speaking against Modi, largest opposition (party) leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury suspended. Unbelievable. Undemocratic. Condemn the autocracy."
Earlier today, a remark of Mr Chowdhury on Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expunged from the proceedings after strong objections from BJP members. Pralhad Joshi had raised point of order and demanded an apology from the Congress member.
After the debate on the No-Confidence Motion against the Narendra Modi government, which was defeated, the Speaker said the conduct of two members -- the BJP's Virendra Awasthi and Congress's Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury -- had been a breach of decorum.
Virendra Awasthi apologised and said he could not tolerate negative comments against the Prime Minister.