Singhvi unwell, won't attend RS for rest of budget session

Congress member Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who had got into a CD controversy last month, is unwell and will not be attending Rajya Sabha during in the second half of the budget session of Parliament.

Citing "illness and family commitment", the Rajya Sabha MP sought leave from April 24 to May 22, which was granted by the Upper House on Friday.

P J Kurien, who was in the Chair, informed during the Zero Hour about Singhvi's application for leave.

The House also granted leave to another ruling party member T Subbarami Reddy, who had sought permission to remain absent from April 25 to May 22.

Singhvi, was seen in Parliament corridor on the first day, when the session had resumed on April 24 after recess. The budget session comes to an end on May 22.

A day before the session reconvened, Singhvi on April 23 resigned as chairman of a Parliamentary Committee and party spokesperson in a damage control exercise.

In a letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, he had informed her of his decision ten days after circulation of a CD purportedly involving him.

Singhvi had in the letter maintained that all allegations were "patently baseless and false" and he resigned "only to prevent even the slightest possible Parliamentary disruption" over the issue.