India’s Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairperson Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday defended his decision to disqualify rebel Janata Dal (United) MPs Sharad Yadav and Ali Anwar from the Upper House of Parliament, PTI reported. Naidu made the decision on Monday based on a petition filed by the party.
Naidu said on Wednesday that he decided to disqualify the MPs within three months of the JD(U)’s petition because many such pleas remain pending for years. Addressing the 12th annual convention of the Central Information Commission in New Delhi, the Rajya Sabha chairperson asked the commissioners to expedite their decisions in a similar manner. “Justice delayed is justice denied,” he said.
In Monday’s order, Naidu had said that disqualification of a member of the legislature should be decided by the presiding officer in about three months, to thwart political defections.
The order said Sharad Yadav had “voluntarily given up his membership of the political party, Janata Dal (United), by which he was set up as a candidate for election to the Rajya Sabha” and has “incurred disqualification”. Ali Anwar was disqualified from the Rajya Sabha for indulging in alleged “anti-party activities”.
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