Date:28/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/28/stories/2006032804211000.htm

National

Office of profit: BJP favours legislation

Special Correspondent

"A thorough debate needed in Parliament"

Venkaiah Naidu

CHENNAI: The Bharatiya Janata Party says it favours the route of legislation to resolve the office of profit issue.

"We want legislation, not ordinance. The issue has to be debated thoroughly in Parliament. A broad consensus has to be developed," M. Venkaiah Naidu, former BJP president, told a press conference here.

There was a need to define what constituted an office of profit, Mr. Naidu said and referred to reports of a number of complaints being filed against MPs and MLAs. "A chaotic situation is prevailing in the country. We have to set certain standards on this issue. The concept of office of profit has to be defined clearly."

Criticising the United Progressive Alliance Government's handling of the issue, he said suspicion arose because the Government adjourned Parliament sine die hoping to bring in an ordinance instead of facing Parliament.

"UPA in turmoil"

He alleged that the UPA was in "turmoil" and there was no central command in it. There was mutual distrust among its constituents and the Prime Minister had no control over the Government. This might lead to snap parliamentary polls after the Assembly elections.

On the resignation of Congress president Sonia Gandhi as chairperson of the National Advisory Council and as MP, Mr. Naidu said, "because of their incompetence and wrongdoings, the Congress and its Government have sacrificed her. There is no real sacrifice. There is no other alternative than her resignation."

He dismissed suggestions that the BJP's rath yatras would trigger communal violence.