The leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad joined the issue alleging that Gamit was told by the SP that he would not get a ticket in next Assembly polls and he could arrange a meeting with BJP chief Amit Shah. PTI Photo
Rajya Sabha on Friday was disrupted by Congress protests over the "abduction" of one of their MLAs in Gujarat by police, saying the ruling BJP is "stealing" their representatives ahead of polls to Upper House.
The morning session was washed out as the House witnessed four adjournments as Congress rushed to the Well and BJP MPs countered it by sloganeering.
As soon as the House Assembled for Zero Hour, senior Congress MP Anand Sharma was on his feet to raise the "abduction" of Vyara MLA Punabhai Gamit by district Superintendent of Police, promising him to take to BJP chief Amit Shah who is also a contestant from Gujarat.
The leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad joined the issue alleging that Gamit was told by the SP that he would not get a ticket in next Assembly polls and he could arrange a meeting with BJP chief Amit Shah, who is also contesting Rajya Sabha polls, to arrange candidature from the saffron party.
"An SP will decide Congress deny ticket? He will get someone ticket from BJP and take him to party chief. For Rajya Sabha elections, they are using police," Azad said.
Countering Congress, BJP Ministers Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Vijay Rupala said Congress is levelling allegations as they are not able to keep their flock together. At least five Congress MLAs have resigned and one of them have been fielded by BJP, which could affect the prospects of Congress nominee Ahmed Patel.
When Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien told Opposition that they should approach Election Commission, Azad said the issue has to be raised in the Upper House as it relates to polls to the Rajya Sabha. Sharma said Constitutional rights are being violated and BJP is in a habit of "stealing MLAs" for winning in Rajya Sabha elections".
Azad said he is not raising the issue of MLAs who have quit the party but added BJP is caught red handed for effecting defection as they have given a ticket.
While two adjournments were witnessed during Zero Hour, the situation was not different when Question Hour started. Repeated pleas by Chairman Hamid Ansari did not normalise the situation.
Senior CPI (M) MP Sitaram Yechury said the abduction of MLA on the eve of elections is not a good sign and wanted a direction from the Chair of Election Commission to ensure free and fair polls.
Ansari said the Deputy Chairman has already made it clear already that aggrieved persons can approach Election Commission.