Rekha turns up to attend Rajya Sabha proceedings following criticism over absence

New Delhi: Yesteryear Bollywood star Rekha turned up to attend the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday amidst criticism for attending only seven sittings since being nominated two years ago.

Wearing a cream coloured saree, the 'Umraon Jaan' star posed before a battery of photographers with folded hands and said "namaste" as she entered the Parliament House complex.

Rekha, along with cricket icon Sachin, has been under attack in Rajya Sabha for low attendance in the House.

She has attended only seven sittings since she was nominated to the House two years back.

Members of the House last week said the celebrities were insulting the House by not attending it.

P Rajeeve (CPI-M), while raising the issue of long-duration absence of Rekha and cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, had wanted to know whether they have sought permission for it.

Responding to this, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien had said Rajeeve and some other members had raised the issue earlier but there was no violation of the Constitutional provisions.

NCP leader D P Tripathi had said, "I like him (Sachin) very much as a cricketer and I really like Rekha as an actress but their conduct as nominated members of Rajya Sabha is despicable to say the least.

"By their behaviour and continued absence, they have insulted Parliament and Indian Constitution. Such people should have never been nominated to this august house. I pity those MPs who get themselves clicked with Rekha and Sachin Tendulkar."

Some other members had also expressed a desire that they felt the cricket icon should contribute more.

Besides Rekha, another Bollywood personality Rakhi Sawant, who has recently joined Ramdas Athawale-led RPI, was in Rajya Sabha visitors' gallery for some time.