Congress's Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury suspended from Lok Sabha over 'misconduct'

This was the first time the leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha got a suspension order.

The matter will be referred to a Privileges Committee, media reports said.

The motion to suspend Chowdhury was moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi.

"This House having taken serious note of the gross, deliberate, and repeated misconduct of Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in utter disregard to the House and authority of Chair resolves that the matter of his misconduct be referred to Committee of Privileges of the House for the further investigation and report to the House and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury be suspended from the service of the House till the Committee submits its report," he said.

The resolution was adopted by voice vote.

"I didn't mean to offend anyone. I have not said anything wrong," Chowdhury told reporters later.

Earlier in the day, a remark by Chowdhury on Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expunged from the proceedings after strong objections from BJP members.

Pralhad Joshi had raised a point of order and demanded an apology from the Congress member. 

Following the debate on the No-Confidence Motion against the Narendra Modi government, which was defeated, the Speaker said the conduct of two members- Virendra Awasthi and Congress's Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury- had been a breach of decorum.

Virendra Awasthi apologised and said he could not tolerate negative comments against the Prime Minister.