There is no celebrity, non-celebrity in Parliament: Govt.

New Delhi [India], Mar. 31 (ANI): Asserting that Parliament is the highest forum for discussion, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar on Friday said there is no celebrity or non-celebrity when a person is a nominated MP. "Parliament is the highest forum for discussions and welfare of the people. It is the foundation of our democracy. We are servants. There is no celebrity or non-celebrity. I think all should participate," Kumar said. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Hema Malini advised her colleagues to take up the job properly and not half-heartedly. "I cannot say why they are not coming. But as far as I am concerned my friend who is in Rajya Sabha...I have been inspiring a lot to come. But she has mentioned that she comes. I don't know whether you people have seen or not. But I think she is coming," she added. Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agrawal yesterday questioned the continued absence of sportspersons and Bollywood stars, nominated to the Rajya Sabha, from the House even as he cited the case of Sachin Tendulkar for not being present during the session. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Agrawal said, "There are 12 nominated members in RS according to provisions of the Constitution. The Council of Ministers recommends their names after which President nominates them. These people have been nominated to represent Parliament but we don't see them (in the House)." Without taking names, Agarwal said that a Bollywood actress has also not been attending Parliament and had not come to the House during the session. "If they are not interested, shouldn't they resign," he asked. Agrawal had raised the issue through a 'point-of-order' when the House met for the day. Deputy chairman P. J. Kurien said that this was not a point of order, adding Agarwal could use his good offices to convince the nominated members to be present in the House. The Samajwadi Party leader said if the chair so suggests then he would write to the members on the issue. Besides Tendulkar and Rekha, other nominated members include Anu Aga, Sambhaji Chhatrapati, Swapan Dasgupta, Roopa Ganguly, Narendra Jadhav, M. C. Mary Kom, K. Parasaran, Gopi Suresh, Subramanian Swamy and KTS Tulsi. (ANI)