Congress' Rajani Patil suspended from RS for recording House proceedings

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar took a “serious view” on the matter and called it an “unwholesome activity” on her side .

Congress MP Rajani Ashokrao Patil on Friday has been suspended from the Rajya Sabha for the remainder of the Budget session on grounds of parliamentary misconduct. The suspension came after the Congress MP tweeted a video from inside the House where Opposition MPs were seen protesting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response to the Motion of Thanks on Thursday. Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar took a “serious view” on the matter and called it an “unwholesome activity” on her side .

The Congress MP tweeted a video from inside the House where Opposition MPs were seen protesting (ANI)

“In public domain yesterday, on Twitter, there was a dissemination of a video relating to proceedings of this House…Rajani Ashokrao Patil engaged in this unwholesome activity and what has been seen is a matter that must engage our attention,” Dhankhar said.

The Privileges Committee will probe the matter and Patil will remain suspended till the committee submits its report. Dhankhar said the matter will not be handed over to any outside agency in order to keep the Parliament's sanctity.

“The entire matter will be probed by the Privileges Committee and till we have the benefit of the recommendation of the Privileges Committee for consideration of this august House, Patil is suspended for the current session,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Chairman Dhankhar asked leaders of all political parties to express their views on matter related to filming House proceedings while PM Modi was speaking on the Motion of Thanks. A motion to suspend Patil was adopted for the remaining part of the ongoing Budget session.