BJP demands Sonia's resignation

The BJP today demanded the resignation of Congress President Sonia Gandhi after President A P J Abdul Kalam returned the Office of Profit Bill.

"Sonia Gandhi made a great show of ethics and morality while resigning from the Lok Sabha, she should show some consideration for it now as well," said BJP President Rajnath Singh.

An NDA delegation led by Rajnath and NDA convenor George Fernandes petitioned the Election Commission to act immediately on pleas to disqualify lawmakers who have been accused of holding posts that can be considered offices of profit.

In a clear attack on Sonia, a complaint against whom was filed before the EC for heading the National Advisory Council while being a Lok Sabha member, the NDA urged the commission to send its recommendations urgently to the President regarding all disqualification pleas.

"We asked the EC that while one member is disqualified retrospectively, how another similarly placed member can escape disqualification either by resigning or being protected by the efflux of time till a corrective law is promulgated," senior BJP leader L K Advani said.

In an apparent reference to Samajwadi Party leader Jaya Bachchan's disqualification as an MP for heading an Uttar Pradesh film body, the NDA also alleged bias in dealing with the office-of-profit complaints.

"The discriminatory treatment in respect of members of Parliament and legislature by some of them being proceeded against while others are protected will appear to attract provisions of Constitution providing for equality before law," memorandum submitted by NDA said.