Some Elders on Tuesday objected to film actor and TMC member Mithun Chakraborty’s continuing absence in the Rajya Sabha for the second consecutive session on medical grounds. They called for a limit to leave from the House and said prolonged absence was misuse of facilities and perks extended to MPs.
The issue was raised by Naresh Agrawal (Samajwadi Party) when Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien sought the House permission on permitting Mithun to remain absent for the entire Session due to ill health. Agrawal said there should be a limit to leave as Mithun was not present in the last Session too. The SP leader said prolonged absence amounted to misuse of facilities to MPs.
Coming to Mithun’s rescue, his party colleague Sukhendu Shekhar Roy said the actor had duly submitted medical report to the Rajya Sabha and he may be allowed to remain absent. Joining the issue, JD(U) member KC Tyagi urged various political parties to ensure that their members attend the proceedings regularly. He also quipped some members do not come to Parliament and prefer to pose for advertisements of private companies.
Kurien said the Chair has no ground to reject leave and has to prima facie accept an MP’s request for absence on medical grounds. He also said there was no limit to period of leave. Kurien then went to read out another request by a member for leave as he was in judicial custody.