The Hindu : National : Jaya Bachchan, Bajaj take oath

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 25, 2006

National

National

Jaya Bachchan, Bajaj take oath

Special Correspondent

NEW BEGINNING: Jaya Bachchan, who took oath as a Rajya Sabha member on Monday, with Members of Parliament, Hema Malini and Jayaprada at the Parliament House on Monday. Her husband, Amitabh Bachchan, accompanied her and watched the proceedings from the visitors' gallery. — PHOTO: V.V. Krishnan

NEW DELHI : Industrialist Rahul Bajaj and film star Jaya Bachchan took oath as Rajya Sabha Members on Monday.

K.P.K. Kumaran (Dravida Munetra Kazhagam), Chaudhury Mohammad Aslam (Congress) and Amir Alam Khan (Samajwadi Party) also took oath.

Mrs. Bachchan, elected on a Samajwadi Party (SP) ticket, was disqualified after she was found to be holding an office of profit in her capacity as Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh Film Development Council.

Her disqualification led to petitions of a similar nature being filed against several elected representatives.

Her husband Amitabh Bachchan, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and SP Lok Sabha member Jayaprada watched Ms. Bachchan take oath from the visitors' gallery.

Mobbed

PTI reports:

The arrival of Amitabh Bachchan to the Parliament House virtually threw the security out of gear, as he was mobbed by onlookers and journalists.

Flanked by a posse of security men, Mr. Bachchan waded through the milling crowd and reached the Rajya Sabha's visitors' gallery to watch the proceedings.

The superstar, before the House assembled for the day, also responded to the greetings of some Members already seated in the House, with folded hands.

The portals of the House were soon thronged by a huge crowd after word spread about Mr. Bachchan's presence.

Jaya attacks Congress

Mrs. Jaya Bachchan launched a veiled attack on the Congress and its leadership saying that she decided to stay in politics unlike her husband Mr. Bachchan as "leaders in my party are known for their steadfastness." Mrs. Bachchan was speaking to reporters along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and party General Secretary Amar Singh, after taking oath as a member of the Upper House.

She said she has great respect for President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, who is "like father" to her, and the Election Commission.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National