Kurien threatens to suspend protesting TDP MPs from Rajya Sabha

Upset over frequent disruptions caused by two Telugu Desam Party members of Parliament, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien on Friday threatened to suspend them for a day "for holding the House to ransom" but could not do so as members of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Trinamool Congress opposed it.

Kurien issued the warning around 2.30 pm when Coal Minister Shriprakash Jaiswal was to give clarifications on the missing files of the coal block allocation. The two MPs Y S Chaudhary and C M Ramesh, were in the Well and chanting slogans against the decision to form Telangana.

Kurien pleaded with them to allow the House to function but the members were unrelenting.

Amid din, Kurien threatened to take action under Rule 255 under which "the chairman may direct any member whose conduct is in his opinion grossly disorderly to withdraw immediately from the council and any member so ordered to withdraw shall do so forthwith and shall absent himself during the remainder of the day's meeting."

During the Zero Hour also, Kurien had said, "I can throw you out also. Do you want me to do that?"

Opposition members V Maitreyan of the AIADMK) and Derek O'Brien of the TMC opposed any action against them prompting to chair to say, "You want clarification on the coal issue and the prime minister is here. You want the discussion but do not want me to take any action against them. These are double standards."

With his repeated threats and appeals failing to yield any result, he said, "the chair is helpless." He then adjourned the House for 30 minutes.

When the House reassembled, Kurien said he was "pained and hurt" as the chair wanted the House to function. He said the prime minister, despite difficulties, was present in the House to intervene as per the demands by some members for him to intervene on the missing coal block allocation files.

"There are two members who are holding the House to ransom. Now, those who wanted this debate to happen are not supporting the chair in taking action against them. This is my agony. If the majority wants action under rule 255, the House can run otherwise I have no way other than to adjourn the House," the deputy chairman said.

With his efforts not yielding any result, he adjourned the House till Monday.