PDP MPs to face Ethics Committee Music

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

PDP MPs to face Ethics Committee Music 

Face action for tearing Constitution in RS

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Aug 23

The two PDP MPs who made national headlines by tearing a copy of the Constitution inside the Rajya Sabha chamber earlier this month, to face music now.

Instead of taking action against their behaviour in the House in full view himself, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu has decided to send the case to Ethics Committee of Parliament.

Though the House has the power to expel them instantly through a resolution. But it was decided by the Chairman that their conduct be looked into by the Ethics Committee.

Senior BJP leader Dr Vinay Sahastrabuddhe is the Chairman of the Ethics Committee. Highly placed sources said here today that before going on a foreign visit, the Chairman sent the case to the Ethics Committee.

The two PDP MPs, Nazir Ahmad Laway and Mir Mohd Fayaz, tore the pages of the Constitution and their clothes in the Rajya Sabha when Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the two bills relating to J&K on August 5. Nazir Ahmad Laway was told not to do so but he did not listen and kept on tearing pages after pages of the constitution. The other MP Fayaz Ahmad Mir tore his Kurta.

Since the Rajya Sabha adjourned two days later, a disciplinary action couldn't be taken then except for that they were suspended immediately from the house until August 7.

In the meanwhile, the PDP MPs were asked by their party chief Mehbooba Mufti to resign in protest against the Centre move on J&K. The two have been staying put in Delhi too, citing travel restrictions to Srinagar. 

However, they have not resigned from Parliament as directed by Mufti as she had been put under house arrest along with several other politicians in the state. Laway and Mir said they had not resigned because they “want to verify” the “veracity of media reports” about Mufti seeking their resignations. One of them also said some other MPs told them that “resignation will not serve any purpose.”

Interestingly, these two MPs did not vote against the Triple Talaq Bill and violated the party whip. But before Mehbooba could act against them, the J&K bills came and utter confusion prevailed.

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BJP wooing two PDP MP s in Rajya Sabha now

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

BJP wooing two PDP MP s in Rajya Sabha now 

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, July 3

After breaking TDP in Rajya Sabha and walking away with four of the six MP s and winning over lone INLD MP, the BJP is eyeing the two MP s of the PDP in the Upper House. The BJP's own strength in the Rajya Sabha has gone up to 76 while NDA's support base touched 112. With the BJD and other friendly parties lending their helping hand, it has already gained a working majority in a House of 236. But the BJP is on the prawl to add in its kitty more MP s in the Rajya Sabha and hence eyeing the two PDP members.

If reports are to be believed, efforts to soften the two MP s in Rajya Sabha have been revived by the ruling party. If the speeches made by the two PDP Mps in the Rajya Sabha on Monday last is any indication, something is cooking in the pot.

Both the PDP MP s; Nazir Ahmed and Mir Mohammed Faiyaz spoke in the Rajya Sabha when the resolution for extending the President's rule in Jammu & Kashmir was brought by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The chair gave special permission to them to speak though under the rule only one MP is allowed to express his views. Both Mps refrained from criticising the Modi government rather Nazir Ahmed said, “Amit Shah's visit to the Valley has raised a new hope in the state and its time wounds be healed.” Mir Mohad Fayaz also expressed similar sentiments and went a step further saying that mistakes of the past 70 years be not committted.

It is learnt that the two MP s also met the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Dr Jitendra Singh who is a Lok Sabha MP from J&K. What transpired between the two is not known.

It may be mentioned that the BJP and the PDP parted company two years ago leading to the fall of the Mehbooba Mufti government. However, the Lok Sabha polls this year saw the BJP winning three seats in Jammu and Ladakh region while JK National Conference of Dr Farooq Abdullah winning all the three seats in the Valley leaving PDP high & dry. Even Mehbooba Mufti lost her Lok Sabha seat. Now the PDP is left with two MP s in the Rajya Sabha. There are already talks that the Congress and JKNC will enter into an alliance leaving PDP high & dry. Therefore, the BJP wants a toy hold in the Valley without a formal alliance.

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