People's Democracy

Clarify "Office of Profit"

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) issued the following statement on March 24, 2006.

THE CPI (M) reiterates its stand that the “office of profit” issue must be clarified and necessary legislative action taken by Parliament itself without recourse to the ordinance route.

The Congress President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi has resigned her Lok Sabha Membership and as the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council in response to the BJP and Opposition charge that she is holding an office of profit.  The post of Chair of the NAC cannot be termed an  “office of profit”. MPs have to discharge various public responsibilities by holding such positions.

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha Shri Somnath Chatterjee is the Chairman of the Sriniketan-Santiniketan Development Authority.  He has, as an MP, been holding this position for the past 17 years.  The demand for his resignation is baseless as it cannot be termed as an office of profit.

The CPI (M) calls upon the Government to speedily resolve the issue in consultation with all parties so that appropriate legislation can be brought in Parliament when it is convened.