Cabinet to take up office of profit Bill tomorrow

New Delhi, July 21 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has convened a Cabinet meeting tomorrow, apparently to finalise the government's stand on the controversial office of profit issue ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning on July 24.

The Cabinet is likely to decide whether to make some changes in the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Amendment Bill, passed by the two Houses during the Budget session but since returned by President A P J Abdul Kalam advising reconsideration of the issue.

Both Dr Singh and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi had earlier this week broadly indicated that the government's view would be shaped up by the Cabinet before approaching Parliament.

Indications are that the UPA government is likely to stick to the original version of the Bill, which seeks to include more than 50 posts, including the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council (NAC), in the exemption list and take these out of the ambit of the disqualification Act.

A large number of MPs, including Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, are facing complaints which seek their disqualification as members for allegedly holding offices of profit.

Dr Kalam has reportedly taken exception to the government's move to exempt only certain posts with retrospective effect.

Official sources said the Cabinet is also expected to discuss the government strategy on the issue and other matters, including the July 11 blasts and price rise on which the BJP has decided to move adjournment motions in the two Houses.

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