Priyanka Chaturvedi, Shashi Tharoor step down as Sansad TV hosts in protest over ‘arbitrary’ suspensions

In protest against the prolonged suspension of 12 MPs by the Rajya Sabha, MPs Priyanka Chaturvedi of the Shiv Sena and Shashi Tharoor of the Congress resigned as anchors for their shows on the Parliament’s TV channel Sansad TV.

While Chaturvedi hosted Meri Kahani on the channel, Tharoor hosted a show called To the Point.

Chaturvedi was one of the MPs suspended. She called the suspension “arbitrary”, saying it had “totally disregarded established Parliamentary norms & rules, to stifle my voice, my party’s voice inside the chamber”.

And so, she wrote in a letter to Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu, “I am unwilling to continue taking space on Sansad TV when my primary oath to the constitution is being denied to me”.

Her letter said: “That this suspension also chose to disregard my parliamentary track record and my contribution beyond the call of duty so as to give a platform to women parliamentarians to share their journey, I believe injustice has been done but as it is considered valid in the eyes of the chair, I must respect it.”

Tharoor’s statement, which was released today, said he was “concerned” that his “continued involvement in hosting a show on Sansad TV would be seen as making me complicit in the undemocratic manner in which Parliamentary institutions are being run”.

”Sadly, Sansad TV itself has been accused of being part of the problem as adverse comments have been made by many on its habit of having cameras focus on the members of the Treasury benches while ignoring the Opposition,” the statement said. “A Parliamentary TV channel must by definition reflect the diversity of Parliament and not whitewash the reality of Parliament's current functioning”.

Tharoor said he would suspend his hosting duties until the suspensions were revoked and a “semblance of bipartisanship restored to the conduct of Parliament and the function of Sansad TV”.

The suspensions

The 12 MPs were suspended last week from the winter session, under Rule 256 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Rajya Sabha, citing their “unruly behaviour” in the previous session in August.

The suspended members include six from the Congress, two each from Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena, and one each from CPI and CPM.

Describing the suspension as “undemocratic and in violation of all the Rules of Procedure” of the Upper House, opposition lawmakers, including Rahul Gandhi, held a protest last week, wearing black armbands in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue at the Parliament.