'Office of profit' ghost still haunts Congress

Dehradun, May 1: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders will meet the Election Commission on May 4 on the issue of Congress legislators of Uttaranchal holding 'offices of profit.' The BJP will meet the EC despite state Assembly passing a Bill in this regard after amendment.

BJP legislator Prakash Pant, who had raised the issue during the budget session, told reporters here today that the Election Commission, with whom the BJP had filed the petition through the Governor, had asked them submit appointment letters of MLAs concerned by May 6.

''We have fixed appointment with the Election Commission on May 4 to submit appointment letters of at least seven MLAs out of 15 ,'' he said.

Mr Pant said the appointment letters clearly state that the appointed person is entitled to salary, perks and other facilities, which in turn disqualifes them.

Mr Pant claimed, ''Article 191(1)(a) clearly reads that any person appointed by the state government other than an office declared by the Legislature of the state by Law comes under the ambit of holding office of profit, gives impetus to our stand.'' ''All the cases relating to the 'offices of profit' of different states are still under consideration in the Election Commission office,'' he said.

Criticising the Congress government Mr Pant said it was proposed by the government to link 177 villages, having population over 2500, with 1299 km long road by 2007 under 'Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna'.

''Despite release of fund, till March 2005, only 49.26 km long raod covering only 21 villages have been constructed so far,'' he said. He further stated that the government had released Rs 81 lakh for the foundation of Medicine experiment laboratory in 2002, but neither single sample has been produced nor any experiment conducted so far despite spending about Rs 54 lakh in it.

''Further, in defiance of norms the concerned department has fix-deposited the remaining amount in the bank in five per cent interest,'' he alleged.

UNI