Rekha's entry creates buzz in Parliament

The scene outside Parliament resembled a film shoot as veteran actor Rekha entered the Upper House to take oath as its latest entrant on Tuesday. While media persons were competing with each other to capture the actor-turned-MP, parliamentarians made a beeline for a glimpse of the Bollywood icon. Before the oath ceremony there was much drama outside Parliament as Rekha was accompanied by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla, who was seen requesting the scribes to allow her to enter the House.

Such was the frenzy that it was difficult for the actress to get out of the car as she entered the Rajya Sabha 20 days after being nominated to the Upper House. Rekha took oath when the House assembled at 11 am. Members of the House of Elders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, welcomed her to the House by thumping the desk. Rekha took oath in English and seated herself on seat number 99. However, she left soon after spending very little time sitting through the House's proceedings.

Parliamentarians welcome Rekha

An excited Samajwadi Party chief, Mulayam Singh Yadav, corrected the Headlines Today correspondent asking him to call her "Rekhaji" instead of just "Rekha"."There is a difference between seeing her on-screen and seeing her in person," the former Union minister said.Asked if he would call Rekha to wish her on becoming an MP, Yadav said, "Please give me the phone number."Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ramvilas Paswan said, "She has come to the Rajya Sabha. It is obvious that I will meet her. She has loads of films to her credit, the most popular being Silsila."

Asked if the nation would get to see a Silsila -- a Bollywood blockbuster based on love triangle featuring Rekha along with Amitabh Bachchan and wife Jaya Bachchan (also a Rajya Sabha member) -- Paswan said, "I am not sure whether we will get to see Silsila, but whichever actor comes to Parliament are renowned ones having their own identity."Asked about his experience of seeing Rekha in Parliament, the former railway minister said, "She is more beautiful than what she appears on screen."

Congress's Rajeev Shukla said, "Rekha was looking forward to attend Parliament. It was a new experience for her. Anyone from a film background would be excited to attend Parliament."Asked about general perception about celebrities not doing any credible work in Parliament, Shukla said, "All previous celebrities like Hema Malini, Shabana Azmi, Dilip Kumar, Jaya Bachchan have all done credible work."

BJP MP Smriti Irani said, "I personally feel that if the government and Parliament give you an opportunity to represent the people then one should capitalise on the given opportunity and ask the government for answers. Now the question is, since the government has nominated you, would you have the courage to ask the government back." Welcoming Rekha to Parliament, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawti said, "The more people that come from diverse fields, the better it is."


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