Ethics Committee to call Jairam Ramesh

New Delhi, Feb 15 (PTI) A Parliamentary panel todaydecided to call Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh to discusshis complaint to presiding officers against MPs lobbying withhim for projects in which they have vested interests.

The Ethics Committee, headed by former Union MinisterManikrao Gavit, discussed the letter written by Ramesh to LokSabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Rajya Sabha Chairman HamidAnsari asking them to "dissuade" MPs with "serious conflict ofinterest issues" from meeting him or his Ministry''s officials.

Committee members said Ramesh could be called during therecess of Parliament after the presentation of the Budget.

Ramesh had complained about alleged violation of norms byMPs approaching him with matters of companies they are runningor associated with and raising issues related to projects thatdo not fall in their constituencies.

"This is a blatant violation of norms. I have tried todiscourage this but have not entirely succeeded," he had said.

Kumar and Ansari had referred the matter to the EthicsCommittee.

Members also discussed matters related to formulation ofRules for the Committee and procedure for making ethicscomplaints.

A member said the Committee had reviewed rules of similarpanels which exist in five countries.