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Cong notice to Aditi Singh for defying whip, attending assembly special session
“You have violated the party’s directives, defied whip by taking an active part in the proceedings of assembly..,” said Congress Legislature Party leader Ajay Kumar Lallu in the show cause notice to Aditi.
The Congress on Friday served notice to its MLA Aditi Singh, even as the party men held a demonstration outside her office in Rae Bareli, for defying the party’s directive to not take part in the special session of state assembly that Yogi Adityanath government had convened on October 2.
“You have violated the party’s directives, defied whip by taking an active part in the proceedings of assembly. This is gross indiscipline and anti-party activity. Give an explanation in two days about the gross indiscipline and anti-party activity or else necessary action will be taken against you,” said Congress Legislature Party leader Ajay Kumar Lallu in the show cause notice to Aditi, who has been holding office of All India Mahila Congress general secretary, too.
Although the special session had been convened to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary and hold 36-hour uninterrupted debate on sustainable development goals, the Congress and other opposition parties had stayed away from it.
“The Congress had decided to boycott the session and a whip had been issued to ensure that no party legislator is present in the house. You had been personally informed about this decision,” read the notice dated October 4, 2019.
As Aditi represents an assembly segment of Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s Lok Sabha seat, the Congress workers there reacted strongly to Aditi’s move and held a demonstration outside her office in Rae Bareli. The partymen carried banners and placards demanding her resignation. “Satta ki god main baithna band karo, nahin to istifa do (Stop siding with the government or resign) and BJP ki kathputli banna band karo (stop being a puppet of BJP),” read some of the banners and placards.
A day after Aditi praised Yogi in the state assembly (October 2), the state government upgraded her security to ‘Y plus’ category that provides for PSOs and escort with her along with guards for round the clock security of her house.
Aditi said “I did what I felt was right… They (Congress workers) brought some outsiders and labourers to hold a demonstration in front of my office in Rae Bareli when I was away and only my sister and mother were there. Am I being targeted for being a woman. Why have they not given any show cause notice to Congress MLC Dinesh Singh and MLA Rakesh Singh, who also took part in the special session.”
Lallu, however, countered Aditi’s statement and said the party had already submitted petitions seeking disqualification of Dinesh Singh and Rakesh Singh.
It may be mentioned that BJP chief Amit Shah had inducted Dinesh Singh in the BJP at a public rally before 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
