New Delhi: The Delhi Legislative Assembly had an unusual guest this Winter Session — two-month-old Advait Abhinav Rai. He is mostly found sleeping on the laps of her mother’s colleagues — MLAs who take turns to babysit the little one while her mother tackles the many challenges of being a legislator.
Advait is the son of AAP MLA from Rohtas Nagar, Sarita Singh and AAP volunteer from the anti-corruption movement days, Abhinav Rai. The two fell in love back then and got married in April 2016.
Advait was born on November 8, 2017 and has been “attending” the Delhi Assembly with mother Sarita as she fulfils her daily commitments of public meetings, inaugurations, grievance redressal, meetings and attending the Assembly.
On Tuesday, as Sarita took on the BJP to discuss the latest sealing drive across Delhi reading out letters from the traders’ associations on the difficulties they faced after the municipal bodies sealed their shops, Advait slept peacefully in the MLA’s Lounge, watched over by other AAP MLAs, oblivious to the drama in the House.
As the AAP MLAs get busy with their work in the Assembly, one or two of them are always there to look after Advait. As the baby has to be breastfed every two hours, Sarita prefers to take him to the Assembly instead of leaving him at home.
Naresh Yadav, AAP MLA from Mehrauli, said, “The Quorum has to be complete, but one of the MLAs must also be with Advait. He is the future of Aam Aadmi Party.”
MLAs Naresh Yadav and Bavna Gaur babysit Advait at the MLAs' lounge. (Image: News18)
MLA Bandana said, “The baby is supportive of her mother’s struggle. Women are required to fulfil their duties both at home and at work.”
In the Assembly, which does not have a crèche, she uses Deputy Speaker Rakhi Bidlan’s office to feed the baby.
Sarita said, “The Assembly is a very peaceful place but I take him along even when I go to inspect overflowing drains. There, I feed him in the car.”
Asked about why she does not avail maternity leave, Sarita says: “There is no maternity leave when we are public servants and we are accountable to the people. We have responsibilities to fulfil and I am enjoying this phase of my life."
Incidentally, there is no provision of maternity leave for lactating women legislators in the Delhi Assembly.
Elders in the House dissuade her from taking the baby along, but Sarita and Abhinav feel their baby will be blessed if he meets more people.
Advait, however, has a long day ahead of him on Wednesday as his mother attends the Assembly followed by meetings, with the last one scheduled at 10pm. For the next six months, Sarita plans to keep up the ritual of having her baby by her side till the time he is allowed to have outside food.
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