Howrah News Service -  Latest news and headlines on Howrah,West Bengal and World: Somnath bitter on profit issue

Somnath bitter on profit issue
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NewsByte on 03 June, 2008 02:44:22
 
By Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi
June 3: After achieving the distinction of becoming the first Marxist to
complete four years as Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr Somnath Chatterjee on Tuesday
sought to build bridges with the Opposition, saying he has no issue except the
smooth running of Parliament.
His statement is significant as he is not on the best terms with the BJP-led
Opposition.
The veteran parliamentarian, who made a history by taking a firm stand on
issues like taking action against MPs involved in the cash-for-questions scam
and MPLAD scheme, has been insisting that MPs should not increase their
salaries, allowances and perks by themselves but through an independent
constitutional body. Principally, he is against the MPLAD scheme and increase in
the allocation of fund.
He took a strong position in preserving legislative independence and did not
hesitate in taking on the judiciary for allegedly "encroaching on the
legislature's turf".
Mr Chatterjee, who does not belong either to the ruling coalition or the
Opposition, has been running the House divided on several issues. Interestingly,
while the supporting parties are seen playing the role of Opposition on certain
issues in the House, the ruling partners too have different stands from the
government on certain issues (women's reservation bill).
During an hour-long interaction with a group of reporters at his residence here
on Tuesday, Mr Chatterjee spoke on different issues pertaining to Parliament and
outside, the role of the Election Commission, media coverage of parliamentary
proceedings, Lok Sabha television channel and Parliament museum. His ultimate
aim is to bring people closer to the great institution.
But the Lok Sabha Speaker is hurt over how the Election Commission played a
"very, very dubious role" after then President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam referred the
office-of-profit issue to it, acting on advice that was "not correct".
Mr Chatterjee, who completes four years in office on Wednesday, is also
concerned about the image of the members of Parliament in view of growing
negative perception about them.
The veteran parliamentarian, who has the distinction of a record 10 terms and
38 years as a member of the Lok Sabha, is bitter about the EC turning an
investigator into the office-of-profit issue allegedly involving him.
"...Deliberately the Speaker was targeted on the basis of false information...
The EC played a very, very dubious role," Mr Chatterjee said. "The EC tried to
investigate when the complainant said that he has no information in support of
the charge. They became an investigator. They wrote to the West Bengal
government," he said, adding that he was not given any opportunity to explain
his position.
Mr Chatterjee's reference was to the complaint against him by a Trinamul
Congress activist on the office-of-profit issue for his heading the Santiniketan
Sriniketan Development Authority.
Mr Chatterjee claimed that the EC had "no courage" to ask him for details. He
said that he has the highest regard for Dr Kalam but insists that the former
President was "not correctly advised".