Congress evades issue of action against Masood

Congress today sidestepped questions on whether it would take disciplinary action against party leader Rashid Masood, the first MP to be formally disqualified following his conviction in a graft case.
"It has happened long time back when he was a member of the Opposition government," AICC spokesman Sandeep Dikshit said when asked whether Masood, who is a member of Congress Working Committee would face disciplinary action.
"We took a principled stand even after a policy was taken earlier. This should be lauded," he said alluding to Rahul Gandhi's decision to oppose the Ordinance on convicted lawmakers.
He was asked whether Masood had brought embarrassment to the party.

Masood (66) was formally disqualified today after the Supreme Court struck down a provision that protects a convicted lawmaker from disqualification on the ground of pendency of appeal in higher courts.
His conviction was the first after the Supreme Court's ruling.

Sources said the notification formally announcing a vacancy in the upper house of Parliament following Masood's disqualification was issued by Rajya Sabha Secretary General Shumsher K Sheriff.
A copy of the notification was sent to the Election Commission for necessary action, the sources said.
Lok Sabha MPs Lalu Prasad and Jagdish Sharma, both convicted in the fodder scam, are also set to be formally disqualified.