Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Office of Profit Bill

The arguments in the article "The President has no red cards" (OP-ED, July 25) are untenable. The Office of Profit Bill is meant for the self-aggrandisement of MPs. In an extraordinary situation like this, it is the President's duty, as upholder of the Constitution, to ascertain the propriety of the Bill. He has shown only a yellow card and not a red card.

M.M. Kotian,
Bangalore

When President Abdul Kalam returned the Bill to Parliament for reconsideration, he was acting on behalf of the people of India. How could MPs sit in judgment on an issue involving their own interest? Passing it without any changes again for compulsory assent by the President is unethical.

Israel Jayakaran,
Chennai

If the President cannot reserve for himself the right to send a bill back to Parliament for reconsideration, what is the need for such a provision in the Constitution? A rubber stamp will do the job. To suggest that President Kalam is being influenced by the Opposition is an insult to his stature and office.

G. Ganesan,
Hyderabad

What is the President expected to do when the major opposition wants to meet him? Turn it away and be accused of being partisan by the same yardstick? The author is perhaps right in saying that the President is not a constitutional referee. But the eagerness and unseemly fervour with which our legislators want to amend the law to suit their political ends certainly call for a referee.

K. Saumya,
Mumbai

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Office of Profit Bill

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