Congress Rajya Sabha member suspended for unruly behaviour

As the Rajya Sabha proceedings were disrupted by the opposition for the third consecutive day Wednesday, Congress member V. Hanumantha Rao was suspended from the house for the day by Chairman Hamid Ansari for unruly behaviour.

Rao went up to the chairman's podium, shouting slogans against the government when an angry Ansari asked him to leave the house under Rule 255 of the general rules of proceedings.

The rule says: "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."

In the post-lunch session, Congress member Digvijaya Singh, backed by many other opposition members, urged Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien to plead with the chairman to allow the member back in the house.

However, Kurien said the chairman's decision cannot be challenged, and Rao will have to stay out of the house for the rest of the day.