Opposition stages walkout in Puducherry Assembly over Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification as MP

Also read: Congress holds protests over the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi

BJP rises in revolt

However, legislators belonging to the ruling BJP rose in revolt against Vaithianathan raising the issue. The House was virtually drowned in noisy scenes.

Speaker R Selvam ordered the expunging of the remarks made by the Congress member.

All the six legislators belonging to the opposition DMK and the two Congress members staged a walkout from the House. While the DMK members returned to the House a little later the Congress members did not do so.

Rahul Gandhi was convicted and sentenced to two years in jail by a Surat court on Wednesday last in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his “Modi surname” remark leading to his disqualification from the Lok Sabha.

Also read: I’m hopeful, says disqualified Lakshadweep MP Faizal

House adjourned due to lack of quorum

The House was adjourned for half an hour during the debate on demands for grants for several departments including PWD and Fisheries due to a lack of quorum.

Deputy Speaker P Rajavelu who was conducting the proceedings kept raising the bell and repeatedly asked the members staying outside to return to the House as there was a lack of quorum (minimum of eleven members required to be present to conduct proceedings).

With no member returning, Rajavelu announced at noon that the House would reassemble at 12.30 pm.

Members belonging to the ruling AINRC and BJP were airing their views on the departments relating to which the demands for grants were moved by the ministers concerned.

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