OoP Bill: BJP wants comprehensive law

BJP told the government that the Office-of-Profit Bill in its present form was totally unacceptable.

The main Opposition BJP on Sunday told the government that the Office-of-Profit Bill in its present form was totally unacceptable to it and demanded a comprehensive legislation which addresses the concerns raised by the President while "condoning" those currently affected for one time.

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Top BJP leaders, including Leader of Opposition LK Advani, told Union Ministers Pranab Mukherjee, Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi and Suresh Pachouri that it will not be possible to support the Bill if it is re-introduced in Parliament without any amendment and without addressing the objections raised by President APJ Abdul Kalam while returning it, party's Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha Sushma Swaraj told reporters.

During the two-hour dinner meeting at Advani's residence, the saffron leaders said they did not want the affected MPs to lose their seats but wanted a comprehensive legislation, which would clearly define what an office of profit meant.

"We are for one time condoning provided they all resign from the additional posts they are holding and there is uniformity in exemption in all states. There should not be an impression that the legislation was aimed at saving some select people. It should also not be struck down by the courts", Swaraj said.

Senior BJP leaders Jaswant Singh, Arun Jaitley and VK Malhotra were also present at the meeting.