OoP bill: PM hopeful of consensus

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said he was writing to various parties seeking their views on office of profit.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday expressed the hope that the consultation process with political parties on the proposed legislation on the office of profit issue would be completed in time for the Parliament session being convened from May 10.

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Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who has been entrusted with the task of consulting political parties, said he was writing to various political parties seeking their views.

"Parliament is meeting on May 10. I hope this process will be completed before time," Singh said on the sidelines of Defence Investiture Ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

Asked whether the proposed legislation would be a comprehensive one encompassing the offices at the Centre and States, he said, "I cannot say. We have to consult. We will discuss with political parties. There are a number of ideas."

Asked to comment on Rural Development Minister and RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad that there was no need for the National Advisory Council (NAC) with the resignation of Sonia Gandhi, he said, "That is his point of view. But it is my assessment that the NAC has done a superb job."