Congress MP Suspended Like Bhagwant Mann In 2016: Vice President Dhankar

The suspension of Congress MP Rajani Patil from the Rajya Sabha for the remainder of the Budget Session was done following "the procedure" evolved in 2016 when then AAP MP Bhagwant Maan was found live-streaming proceedings of Parliament on social media, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Friday.

Mann, now the chief minister of Punjab, was suspended for the entire session based on the recommendations of a committee which had then BJP MP Kirit Somaiya and K C Venugopal of the Congress, among others.

Congress MP Patil was suspended on Friday for the remainder of the Budget Session for filming proceedings of the House.

In her suspension, the Chair "has followed the procedure evolved with a similar event in the precincts of Parliament and Lok Sabha, involving the present chief minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann," Dhankhar said.

In the first instance, Mann was suspended from the proceedings of the Lok Sabha and the suspension was as per rule till a committee submitted its report. Upon consideration of the report of the committee, the suspension was extended for the entire session, he said.

Patil was suspended for videographing the proceedings of the House with clips making their way into the public domain and being "extensively used by a Twitter account. The decision was taken in view of the transgression of the directions given by the Chairman on July 28 last year," Dhankhar said.

In his directions last year, then Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said, "Members, 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." 

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