03/02/2026
Eight Opposition MPs Suspended for Remainder of Budget Session
Eight opposition members were suspended from the Lok Sabha on Tuesday for the remainder of the Budget Session for allegedly violating House rules and “throwing papers on the Chair” amid uproar over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on the 2020 eastern Ladakh standoff with China.
The House, which witnessed two adjournments earlier in the day, resumed proceedings at 3 pm. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition, said he would not quote from any magazine article or the unpublished memoirs of former Army Chief General M.M. Naravane but intended to comment on Chinese actions during the Kailash Range standoff and the government’s response.
The government objected, stating that Rahul Gandhi could not refer to an unpublished memoir or any article based on it. The Chair directed him to resume his speech on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address and adhere to the ruling already given.
As Rahul Gandhi persisted with his remarks, the Chair called other members to speak. This triggered sloganeering by Congress and other opposition members, which intensified when a TDP member began speaking. Amid the disorder, some members were seen throwing papers, forcing the House to be adjourned again.
When proceedings resumed, BJP member Dilip Saikia, who was in the Chair, named eight opposition MPs. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju then moved a motion seeking their suspension for the remainder of the session for violating rules and disrupting proceedings. The motion was adopted amid continued protests from the opposition.
The suspended MPs include Congress members Hibi Eden, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Manickam Tagore, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Prashant Yadaorao Padole, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy and Dean Kuriakose, along with CPI(M) member S. Venkatesan.
The Lok Sabha had also witnessed repeated adjournments on Monday over the same issue related to Rahul Gandhi’s references during the debate.