TMC MP cries foul, says 'differential treatment' meted out in RS

Alleging a nexus between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress over the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sukhendu Sekhar Roy on Monday expressed disappointment over Rajya Sabha chairman Mohammed Hamid Ansari's decision to ask him to leave the Upper House and said 'differential treatment' was meted out to him.

"I had given notices twice last week that I want to raise the AgustaWestland scam in Parliament. The chairman allowed Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad to speak, Arun Jaitley ji was allowed to speak, Dr. Subramanian Swamy was allowed to speak, but I was not allowed to speak," Roy told the media outside Parliament.

"Today I gave the notice for the third time and when the deputy chairman allowed me to speak, the Congress leaders attempted to silence my voice. The Congress members rushed into the Well and started raising slogans. No action was taken against the Congress leaders, but I was asked to leave. I accept this as we have to accept the chairman's decision," he added.

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.

The TMC had today given a notice in the Rajya Sabha for suspension of all business to pave way for immediate discussion on the AgustaWestland chopper deal.