Political leaders should follow Sonia's instance : Congress

Kolkata, Mar 24: Giving a spin to the resignation of Ms Sonia Gandhi as MP and Chairperson of National Advisory Council, the Congress today said her action was an example for other political leaders to follow.

" By resigning, she has once again proved that our party believes in transparency in political and private life. Her courageous decision has set an instance for the other political leaders, " West Bengal Pradesh Congress Working President Pradip Bhattacharjee said.

Mr Bhattacharjee's comment came significant before the state Assembly elections as eleven CPI(M) MPs from West Bengal were facing allegation of enjoying office of profit.

Though the Congress-led UPA Government enjoys the Left support at the Centre, they are bitter rivals in the state elections.

Denying that his comments were aimed at any particular party and said it was up to the conscience of the respective leaders, facing similar allegation, to follow the suit.

However, evading elaboration, veteran CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu said, " Parliament should decide on the law. " Meanwhile, speaking on the issue, CPI(ML) Liberation General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya demanded that the Election Commission must come to a conclusion on the allegation against 40 MPs on the basis of the existing law against enjoying office of profit.

" Even if the Government brought an amendment, it should not have any retrospective effect for the rescue of these MPs, " he said and demanded that Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, whose name had been brought by certain quarters into the controversy, should resign following the example of Congress President Sonia Gandhi to keep the Constitutional post above any question.

UNI

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