‘Shows his greatness’: PM Modi praises Rajya Sabha deputy chairman after suspended MPs snub tea offer

Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned on Tuesday Harivansh, the deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, is blessed with a “humble mind and a big heart” after he went to satisfy the protesting MPs from the opposition events and supplied them tea.

Harivansh met the protesting member of the Rajya Sabha from the opposition events, who spent the night time on the lawns of Parliament to protest the passage of two contentious farm payments and not using a division of votes on Sunday within the Upper House. He was seen sitting and consuming tea with the MPs on the bottom.

“To personally serve tea to those who attacked and insulted him a few days ago as well as those sitting on Dharna shows that Shri Harivansh Ji has been blessed with a humble mind and a big heart. It shows his greatness. I join the people of India in congratulating Harivansh Ji,” he tweeted.

“For centuries, the great land of Bihar has been teaching us the values of democracy. In line with that wonderful ethos, MP from Bihar and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Shri Harivansh Ji’s inspiring and statesman like conduct this morning will make every democracy lover proud,” he added.

Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen, the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP’s) Sanjay Singh, Congress leaders Rajeev Satav, Ripun Bora and Syed Nasir Hussain, KK Ragesh and Elamaram Karim of the CPI(M) had been suspended for per week by Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu for “unruly behaviour” with Harivansh.

They had refused to depart the House after their suspension, which was adjourned a number of occasions amid opposition protest.

“Harivansh ji said he came to meet us as a colleague and not as the deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha. He also brought some tea and snacks for us. We started this sit-in demonstration yesterday as a protest against our suspension. We have been here all night,” Bora mentioned, in line with information company ANI.

“No one from the government has come to enquire about us. Many opposition leaders came to enquire about us and to show solidarity with us. We are going to continue this demonstration,” Bora added.

The sit-in protest by eight suspended MPs on Parliament premises continued for the second day on Tuesday after they spent the night time within the lawns close to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue.