LS amends Parliament(Prevention of Disqualification) Law

New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) The Lok Sabha today passed by a voice vote the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Amendment Bill, providing exemption to several offices of profit, including the National Advisory Council, following an assurance from Law Minister H.R. Bharadwaj that it was meant to protect MPs irrespective of their party affiliation.

The Bill enlarges the ambit of exemption of offices of profit by including ten more such offices bringing the total of 55 offices,both public and private, and governing bodies of all registered societies.

"There is no other way to deal with this matter. If we don't amend the 1959 Bill, all the 44 MPs will be disqualified by the Election Commission," Mr Bharadwaj said amid a walk-out by members of the Biju Janata Dal(BJD).

The BJD, raising the point of order, were demanding that the 44 members who were facing charges of holding the office of profit, should not be allowed to vote on the bill which was however rejected by the chair.

Lok Sabha Deputy Chairman Charanjit Singh Atwal said this suggestion could not be accepted.

Earlier, Mr Bharadwaj accused the Opposition members, particularly those of BJP, of not maintaining the decorum and dignity of the House as they were only targeting Congress President Sonia Gandhi. "But she has demonstrated the basic high ethical and moral values," by quitting both as chairman of NAC and Lok Sabha seat.

He wanted to know from the MPs if the Congress members should not demonstrate their commitment to their leaders as they revered their own leaders.

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