If the ruling Congress was expecting useful suggestions from the Opposition for bringing in a Bill to define offices of profit, the BJP's reply to Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee' letter on the issue would surely scotch that hope. | |
| According to leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Jaswant Singh, he has replied to Mukherjee's letter on the issue. |
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| "The essence of my reply to the leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha is that till the government first comes up with a firm commitment on the provisions of the Bill, how can the Opposition offer any commitment to support such an endeavour," he said. |
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| Mukherjee had written to leaders of all political parties in Parliament asking them three basic questions with regard to the proposed legislation on office of profit: One, whether they were willing to support a Bill on defining office of profit, without it being referred to a standing committee which would otherwise delay passage of the Bill; second, whether Opposition parties had any suggestions to make vis-a-vis the provisions of the Bill; and the last, whether the Opposition was ready to support a Bill effective with retrospective effect. |
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| This last proviso may land the government in some trouble since it is one on which the BJP has clearly stated its opposition. |
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