9 ministers, 3 MLAs issued notices over OOP issue by EC

Bhopal, June 21 (UNI) The Election Commission (EC) today issued notices to nine ministers and three legislators of the ruling BJP Government in Madhya Pradesh over the office of profit (OOP) issue.

The EC has directed the ministers concerned and legislators to reply to the notice by June 28.

The ministers included Mr Babulal Gaur, Ms Yashodhara Raje Scindia, Mr Jagdish Deora, Mr Gopal Bhargava, Mr Rustam Singh, Mr Ramakant Tiwari, Mr Choudhary Chandrabhan Singh, Mr Vijay Shah and Mr Tukoji Rao Pawar.

The other legislators included Mr Lakshman Singh Gaur, Mr Shivraj Shah and Mr Lal Singh Arya.

The EC issued notices taking cognizance of Opposition Leader Jamuna Devi's complaint.

EC sources said Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had not been issued notice.

Main opposition Congress described the matter as serious and demanded resignation of all the leaders concerned.

On the other hand, the BJP said since the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Mandal Sadasya Nirharta Nivaran Adhiniyam, 1967, was in effect in the state, the ministers and the legislators did not come under the purview of OOP issue.

An appropriate reply would be sent to the EC within the given time after taking legal advice.

Mr Chouhan told reporters here that he had not gone through the EC notice and hence would not comment.

However, he said a law was passed during the Congress rule, according to which persons concerned were kept outside the OOP in such matters.

State Advocate General Ravinandan Singh said he had information that the EC had issued notices to the ministers and legislators.

However, as the notices had been issued individually, the ministers and MLAs would reply through their lawyers.

''The state government or the advocate general would have no role to play in it,'' he said.

In a statement issued here, Ms Devi said according the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Mandal Sadasya Nirharta Nivaran Adhiniyam, 1967, only Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Leader of Opposition were kept out of OOP's purview.

The Chief Minister and MLAs were not kept out of OOP's purview, she added.

UNI SD-PS RR DB2141