TMC MPs walkout of Rajya Sabha to protest 'illegal' arrest of MPs

TMC members had on Thursday staged a walkout of Rajya Sabha on the same issue

For the second day on Friday, Opposition Trinamool Congress (TMC) members staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha over the "illegal" arrest of their leader in Lok Sabha Sudip Bandyopadhyay.

Raising the issue, TMC MP Derek O'Brien said his party has given two notices - one for the House observing a minute silence to mourn the death of over 120 deaths caused by hardships due to demonetisation, and the "illegal" arrest of the party's leader in Lok Sabha.

He said his party does not want to disturb the House and waste the time of other members by trooping into the Well but in protest of the "illegal" arrest, "we are walking out".

TMC members had on Thursday too staged a walkout of Rajya Sabha on the same issue.

Earlier, Textile Minister Smriti Zubin Irani raised a point of order over Derek's statement on Thursday taking the name of an individual who was not a member of the House.

"That individual is not a neta... He has a right to freedom of speech but not the privilege of the House," she said, asking the Chair to expunge the remarks.

Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said he will go through the records and decide on the issue.

In a related development, V Maitreyan (AIADMK) also raised a point of order asking if matter pertaining to a member belonging to the other House can be raised in the Rajya Sabha.

Kurien said a member can raise in the House, the arrest of any citizen.

Any member can raise the right or plight of any citizen, he said, asking Maitreyan not to interfere.

He said the TMC member terming the arrest as "illegal" was his version.

Bandopadhyay and another Lok Sabha member, Tapas Pal, have been arrested by CBI over their alleged involvement in the Rose Valley chit fund scam.