This is a clear signal that Sonia Gandhi has refused to resume the post that was specially created for her.
Arati R Jerath & Javed M Ansari.
NEW DELHI: The post at the centre of the office-of-profit controversy, chairperson of the National Advisory Council, has been excluded from the exempt list of the draft amendment to be introduced next week in Parliament.
This is a clear signal that Sonia Gandhi has refused to resume the post that was specially created for her when the Manmohan Singh government assumed office. It also means that no MP can hold the post in future.
The other positions held by Sonia on various trusts including some named after the family are also not on the exempt list, indicating that she has no intention of taking up those responsibilities either as long as she remains MP.
Sonia's refusal flows from her claim at the time of the controversy that she has never sought any post for herself. Apart from ensuring that her halo remains intact, her decision is also a measure of her displeasure over the government's mishandling of the issue.
Official sources admitted that the developments have raised a question mark over the NAC's future.
The government will now have to either wind it up or look for someone outside Parliament to head it if it has to continue. A decision will be taken in consultation with Sonia.
Jairam Ramesh, Rajya Sabha MP and minister of state for commerce, who has been functioning as the council's secretary, will also have to quit from the post. However, if someone chooses to pursue the issue, he could face disqualification under the same law that forced Jaya Bachchan out of Parliament.
Significantly, all the 14 positions held by MPs belonging to the Left parties have been put on the exempt list. This includes Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee’s post as chairman of the Sriniketan-Santiniketan Development Authority.
Atal demands abolition of NAC
Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Wednesday demanded abolition of the NAC. "We (BJP) have already demanded its abolition," he told reporters.
Vajpayee's remarks assume significance as the UPA government drafts a bill which is likely to save key leaders of major political parties from disqualification.
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