Rekha attends Rajya Sabha session

New Delhi, May 11: Under attack for her long absence in Rajya Sabha, actor-turned-MP Rekha today attended the proceedings of the Upper House for the first time in the current session.

Clad in a light cream-coloured saree with golden border, the cine star spent over 30 minutes in the House and was witness to three adjournments also.

She was carrying a matching bag and wearing a black-framed spectacle She came during the Zero Hour and left the House a few minutes after the Question Hour was adjourned twice.

Seated in her seat (number 99) between nominated members Anu Aga and Ashok Ganguly, the film actor was seen interacting with social worker Aga.

She was also seen speaking to Congress member Renuka Chowdhury. After the House was adjourned briefly during Zero Hour and Question Hour, she was greeted by many fellow members including Congress members Digvijaya Singh and Rajeev Shukla, who came up to her seat to meet her.

This is the first time she attended the current session. She had attended the last part of the budget session for a day. She had also attended the Winter Session on one occasion and the earlier Budget Session once.

The Bollywood actress has attended a total of 11 sessions of Parliament since her nomination in 2012. She had come under criticism from her fellow members in the Upper House last year when they had pointed to her long absence, along with that of cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, and had asked whether they had sought permission from the Chair.

Some members had also alleged that celebrities were "insulting" the House by not attending it. As per Article 104 of the constitution, if a member is absent from either House of Parliament for a period of 60 days then the seat is considered vacant.

PTI