Election Amendment Bill passes through Rajya Sabha amid Oppn walkout

TMC MP Derek O'Brien suspended for throwing rulebook at Chair; AIADMK, YSRC, BJD back govt

The Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021, was passed by the Rajya Sabha (RS) on Tuesday amid bitter contestation, claims and counterclaims as the opposition walked out. As he left the House, Trinamool Congress leader and MP Derek O’Brien flung the rule book at the Chair, something leader of the House Piyush Goyal termed ‘reprehensible’. Later, O’Brien was suspended for the rest of the winter session, which ends on Thursday.  

Earlier, the opposition protested at the hurry in which the Bill was sought to be passed as it was brought before the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), which decides the agenda, literally hours