BJP pressurising Election Comission, says Cong

New Delhi, May 31: The Congress today condemned as ''irresponsible'' the behaviour of the BJP in pressurising the Election Commission to process all the cases relating to Office of Profit pending with it, saying it was seeking to politicise the constitutional body.

''The hypocritical attitude of the BJP strands exposed in its demand for early disposal of the pending cases,'' Congress spokesperson Jayanti Natrajan told mediapersons here.

She said that their attempt to 'politicise' the Election Commission by putting pressure on it to complete the pending proceedings amounts to ''subverting Parliament, President and the process of law,'' she said, terming it ''irresponsible and motivated behaviour.'' ''Before the BJP makes its demand,the BJP-ruled Government in Jharkhand should first tender its resignation as the principle they talk about applies to Jharkhand too,'' Ms Natrajan, adding this would demonstrate the valildity of their demand.

Asserting that the return of the Bill on Office of Profit by the President to the Government was no setback to the Congress, she said the Government and Parliament would examine with great respect what had been pointed out by the President in returning the Bill. ''They will give a respectful consideration to what the President has pointed out,'' she said.

''We do need to consider the important issues pointed out by the President especially whether Parliament can legislate for State Legislatures on Office of Profit,'' Ms Natrajan noted.

While refusing to comment on what the President had pointed out, she the return of the Bill was a part of Constitutional procedure.

''The issues raised by the President would be considered by the Union Cabinet and Parliament. How it would go to Parliament, it was for the Government to decide... I can't preempt any decision.'' Pointing that the Bill on Office of Profit had already been passed both houses of Parliament, she said the Government may now choose and succeed in convincing the President about the validity of the Bill.

Ms Natrajan denigrated the BJP attempt to demand Congress President Sonia Gandhi's resignation. ''On what grounds the resignation has been demanded is a mystery. Mrs Gandhi has been releected to the Lok Sabha with a huge margin,'' she said.

UNI