Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh breaks 36-hour fast over MPs' ruckus; sips juice

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh on Wednesday broke one-day fast he had started on Tuesday to protest unruly behaviour towards him by some Opposition members during pass of agriculture Bills in Upper House on September 20. He had anunced his 24-hour fast in a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, speaking at length about his anguish over ruckus in House.

't eaten anything since Monday night'

Janata Dal (U) MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh offered juice to Harivansh to help him break fast. "Harivansh Ji was on fast for 36 hours. He had t eaten anything since Monday night. He was following his duty as Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha. re is a fixed procedure of everything in democracy and everyone has right to raise his/her concerns under rules. If Opposition or anyone else thinks that y can do whatever y want to do, it is t possible. If that happens that it will be anarchy," Singh said.

Singh furr said that MPs who were suspended from Rajya Sabha should think about conduct of Deputy Chairman, whose decision to go on a fast displayed sign of greatness. "In which rulebook is it written that you can threaten Deputy Chairman and throw papers on him. suspended MPs need to introspect about this. gesture by Deputy Chairman to visit and bring tea to MPs while y were protesting, reflects his greatness," he added.

" members of Upper House indulged in violent activities in name of democracy. y attempted to threaten person on Chair. Every rule, system of Upper House was flouted. members of Parliament tore apart rule book, threw it on me," Harivansh's letter read.

PM Modi heaps praises on Harivansh

His letter drew lavish praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM said his "inspiring" and "statesman-like" conduct will make every democracy-lover proud and his gesture to personally serve tea to those who "attacked and insulted" him showed he has been blessed with a humble mind and a big heart. It showed his greatness, prime minister said, urging everybody to read his letter.

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Venkaiah Naidu, who is also Rajya Sabha Chairman on Monday rejected -confidence motion moved by Opposition against Harivansh saying that it is "t admissible under rules". On Monday, Naidu anunced a one-week suspension of Trinamool Congress' (TMC) Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen, Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Sanjay Singh, Congress' Rajeev Satav, Ripun Bora and Syed Nasir Hussain, CPI (M)'s KK Rsh and Elamaram Karim for "unruly behaviour" with Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman on Sunday during pass of Farm Bills.

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