by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
TMC issues notice to K D Singh,
Congress to act against 4 absent MPs
In all 42 MPs were absent in RS
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, July 31
The Congress Party in Rajya Sabha is contemplating to issue a show cause notice to four of its Rajya Sabha MPs who were absent at the time of voting on the Triple Talaq Bill in the Rajya Sabha. These MPs did not come to the voting despite the whip was issued. Similarly, the TMC has issued a whip to its MP K D Singh who did not attend the RS when voting took place. K D Singh explained through the SMS to party leader Derek Obrian that he was suddenly fallen sick and got admitted to the hospital. The party will take a call on his absence.
Mukut Mithi, Vivek Tankha, Pratap Singh Bajwa and Rajiv Biswal of the Congress were absent despite the whip. They too will face the music.
No other Opposition party issued the whip to its members that they must present themselves and vote against the bill. As many as 42 MPs to be precise absented at the time of voting yesterday on the Triple Talaq Bill in the Rajya Sabha. While 11 of the AIADMK MPs are considered friendly to the NDA, rest are opposition parties. It is shocking that all four MPs of the Bahujan Samaj Party, six of the 12 SP MPs were also absent.
Of course, the PM spoke to some chief ministers personally to secure their support, but BJP leaders Bhupendra Yadav and C M Ramesh won the praise of the leadership for their role in ensuring these huge absensions. C M Ramesh is a former TDP MP who joined the BJP. They were reporting to Amit Shah who kept on briefing Modi about the development. The 11-member AIADMK opposed the Bill but walked out. The Janata Dal (U) six MPs in the Rajya Sabha also walked out at the time of voting and TRS's six MP s also walked out.
