'Cabinet did not discuss office of profit ordinance'

New Delhi, Mar 23: Apparently owing to intense pressure from the Opposition National Democratic Alliane (NDA), the Samajwadi Party and the supporting Left Parties, Union Cabinet today (Mar 23, 2006) did not take up the proposed ordinance to amend the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959 to exclude offices held by top politicians from the purview of office of profit.

''The Cabinet did not discuss the ordinance,'' Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Opposition, the Left parties and the Samajwadi Party have alleged that Parliament was adjourned sine die yesterday as the government had plans to bring in the ordinance.

They had also blocked the proceedings in both House, saying that the proposed ordinance was meant to prevent UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and others from disqualification as members of Parliament for holding office of profit.

UNI