(Repeating DI 35, correcting matter in para one and two)

New Delhi, July 24 (UNI) Strongly defending Parliament's supremacy in making or changing laws, the Left parties today lambasted the NDA for "pressurising" President A P J Abdul Kalam to curb the august institution's right, while asserting that they would not allow" this to happen at any cost.

Left Floor leaders in the Parliament--Sitaram Yechury and Gurudas Dasgupta-- made it clear in no uncertain terms that Parliament had the ''Uch Samman'' (high regard) for the office of the President which could advise and suggest but could not compromise on the supremacy of the legislature.

The joint leadership of the supporting parties- CPI(M), CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc during an hour long meeting with Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, assured him that they are with the government in the battle to protect Parliament supremacy.

In the morning, the Opposition NDA met the President and urged him to seek the opinion of Supreme Court on the Office of Profit Bill under Article 143 of the Constitution as the UPA Government had decided to pass it in Parliament without any changes.

At a joint press conference, the Left leaders answered a volley of questions pertaining to the Office of Profit Bill- the role of the President and the judiciary in such matters and the "vested interests" of the Left to save their as many as eleven MPs among others.

CPI(M) Floor leader in the Lok Sabha Basudeb Acharia also addressed the press conference while CPI Deputy Floor leader in the Lok Sabha C K Chandrapan, RSP leader and Rajya Sabha MP and Forward bloc General Secretary Debvrat Biswas were present.

Replying to a specific query on the question of the President's advice and suggestions on the OoP bill, CPI(M) Parliamentary group leader Sit aram Yechury made it clear in no uncertain terms that, "The President has every constitutional right to advise and ask for certain suggestions on any Bill... Since he has sent back the OoP Bill for reconsideration... it is back in the Rajya Sabha from where it was sent. Tomorrow a discussion will take place on this." On the NDA's urging the President to seek the judiciary's advice, Mr Yechury asserted that "the role of the judiciary is to interpret the law. the Constitution is very clear on this point.'' More UNI KSA RP HS1734