Former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has finally agreed to accept an offer from the UPA government. He will be nominated a member of the National Integration Council (NIC), a forum to review and make recommendations on issues of national concern.
He had earlier turned down all offers from the government, including a Rajya Sabha berth in the nominated category and being envoy to the UK. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also tried to make him the chairman of a commission to review the issue of the privileges in Parliament. But, L K Advani, then Leader of Opposition, objected to this. Chatterjee told confidants he had to relent because of the government’s pressure.