The din over former JD(U) president Sharad Yadav’s disqualification as Rajya Sabha member marred the proceedings in the lower House on Friday even as the Delhi High Court refused to pass an interim order on a plea for a stay on Sharad’s disqualification.
Justice Vibhu Bakhru, however, allowed Sharad to draw allowances, perks and retain his bungalow as an MP, but restrained him from attending the Winter Session of Parliament. The session, which started on Friday, is scheduled to go on till January 5.
Also, the court sought the response of the Rajya Sabha Chairman besides member Ram Chandra Prasad Singh, who is leader of the JD(U) in the Upper House, on Sharad’s plea challenging December 4 order of the Chairman disqualifying him as an MP.
The disqualification issue also echoed in the Rajya Sabha with the Opposition making its intentions clear to not let the House function during Zero Hour after Chairman Venkaiah Naidu informed the Elders about his decision to disqualify Sharad and Anwar Ali. Naidu said he went through proper process, including giving a hearing to both the members.
leader of Opposition GhulamNabi Azad and Naresh Agrawal (SP) immediately stood up to register their protest. Naidu insisted that his ruling cannot be challenged.
Azad said while he is not questioning Naidu’s decision but he did not agree with Yadav’s disqualification. Trying to raise the issue as a point of order, Agrawal sought to know if Naidu disqualified Yadav under tenth schedule of the Constitution as Vice President or Chairman of Rajya Sabha or as a judicial authority.
While several members were engaged in vociferous protest, Naidu rejected the SP leader’s contention adding it has “no point or order. So there is no point of order.” Even as Naidu tried to get on with the listed business, Congress and SP members rushed into the Well forcing the Chair to suspend the proceedings for about 20 minutes till 12.00 pm