Former Janata Dal (United) President Sharad Yadav said on Thursday that he will challenge his disqualification from the Rajya Sabha in court, PTI reported. “My fight is for principles and democracy. I will fight it in all forums, including court,” he said.
Rajya Sabha Chairperson Venkaiah Naidu had disqualified rebel Janata Dal (United) MPs Yadav and Ali Anwar from the Upper House on Monday. The order said 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”. Anwar was disqualified from the Rajya Sabha for indulging in alleged anti-party activities.
Yadav claimed that his opposition to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Bharatiya Janata Party resulted in his ouster. He also suggested that he was not given the opportunity to defend himself, noting that even people like businessman Vijay Mallya and militant Ajmal Kasab had the opportunity to defend themselves in the Ethics Committee of the Parliament and in courts, respectively.
Yadav added that though he disagreed with Naidu’s comments defending his decision, the institution of the Rajya Sabha was too important to him to attack the vice president.
“I was not shocked that I have been disqualified...I was expecting the same outcome,” Yadav said, adding that his “new freedom” now gives him more time to unite opposition parties against the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Yadav and Anwar broke away from the JD(U) after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar parted from the alliance with the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal to tie up with the BJP in July. On September 5, JD(U) leaders RCP Singh and Sanjay Jha submitted a petition to Naidu, seeking the disqualification of the two MPs.
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