EC should take action against Sonia:Venkaiah

Kochi, Mar 18 (UNI) Senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu today called on the Election Commission to take action against nearly 40 legislators, including Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who had been identified as holding offices of profit.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Naidu said as the President had disqualified Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan, on the advice of the Election Commission, for holding an office of profit, it was now the Commission's ''duty'' to proceed against about 40 others, who had been identified as holding dual posts in different parts of the country.

Alleging that Mrs Sonia Gandhi, as chairperson of the UPA, was holding an office of profit, Mr Naidu challenged the Congress to clarify its stand before the people on this.

''The ruling party, which had been over-enthusiastic about throwing out Mrs Jaya Bachchan due to political reasons, should come out in the open before the people about their double standards''.

Stating that it was the duty of the Election Commission to proceed in such cases without waiting for anyone to submit petitions, Mr Naidu said the Commission should be ''proactive'' and take action, if it thought there had been a violation of the statutes.'' UNI ARC AA VD PM1451