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“Disqualify Natwar”

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday sought the disqualification of the former External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh from the Rajya Sabha under the X Schedule of the Constitution for campaigning for the Samajwadi Party in the recent Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. An earlier application for disqualification – submitted in May -- was returned on technical grounds.

Party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said here that Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was in the know of the move as Congress Whip in the Upper House, V. Narayansamy, had held informal discussions with him last month.

Mr. Singhvi said there was a clear conflict of interest as Mr. Singh was one of the key proposers of Mr. Shekhawat’s candidature for President. “How can the chief adjudicator under the X Schedule make a principal accused in a disqualification case his key proposer,” he asked pointing out that Mr. Shekhawat held a constitutional office as Vice-President.

According to Mr. Singhvi, the Congress made its intent known on the floor of the House when it refused to give Mr. Singh time to intervene in a discussion on the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal.

“At that time, Mr. Shekhawat accepted our contention that Mr. Singh should not be allowed to speak on Congress time as the party planned to seek his disqualification. So, he knew about our move when he got Mr. Singh to sign his nomination paper.”

The Congress has also sought the disqualification of Obaidullah Azmi, who also campaigned for the Samajwadi Party.

Asked how such action could be sought against members for activities outside the House, Mr. Singhvi said the matter was settled by the Supreme Court in the Ravi Naik case, according to which any person of a political party participating in the activities of another political party could be subject to disqualification.

The UPA Presidential candidate Pratibha Patil’s official representative and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi took a dig at Mr. Singh for signing up for Mr. Shekhawat. “Mr. Singh always took great pride in being a Nehruvite; an ideology that is opposed to the Jana Sangh and all its offshoots. How could he now sign up for Mr. Shekhawat? His ideological conversion is complete.”

PTI reports:

Unfazed by the Congress move for his disqualification as Rajya Sabha member, Mr. Natwar Singh said he was pitching for Mr. Shekhawat as a proud Rajasthani just as Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray stood by the “daughter” of Maharashtra.

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“Disqualify Natwar”

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