Raja wants to exercise his right under Lok Sabha’s Rule 357 that says, “a member may, with the permission of the Speaker, make a personal explanation.” Even if he is not allowed to speak, Raja wants to participate in case the resolution on the JPC is put to vote.
The resolution on the setting up of a JPC is expected in Parliament on 22 February, when Raja wants to begin attending the session. Raja is currently in Tihar Jail, after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was granted extended custody in the 2G spectrum case.
Raja, who is also a lawyer, is confident that even convicted MPs, whose appeals are pending in higher courts, are allowed to attend Parliament under police escort while he is an accused who has not even been chargesheeted. Therefore, the court cannot restrain him from attending the House, his close associate said.
In past too jailed MP had participated in the parliament proceeding. Jailed RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin and Independent MP Pappu Yadav were shifted from a Bihar jail to Tihar Jail to attend the Lok Sabha. They also participated in voting on the Indo-US nuclear deal.