BJP says people will make Sonia Gandhi resign as NAC chief - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has cried foul over Congress President Sonia Gandhi again taking charge as the head of the National Advisory Council (NAC). BJP spokesperson Tarun Vijay said this time the people of the country would make Gandhi resign from her post. "It has been a history of the Congress party to hold an office of profit while being an MP. Last time, it was a show by Sonia Gandhi of 'tyag', but the fact is that under the pressure of whole country, she had to resign," said Vijay. "This time also, the people of this country will make her resign from this post," he added. The Union Government on Monday constituted the National Advisory Council (NAC), which will be headed by Congress President Sonia Gandhi as its Chairperson. She will hold the rank and status of Union Cabinet Minister with immediate effect. The term of appointment of the Chairperson of the NAC will be with effect from the date of assuming charge of the office as the Chairperson. It will be co-terminus with the term of the NAC or until further orders which ever is earlier. The term of the members of the NAC shall be for a period of one year with effect from the date of their appointment, which may be extended. The Chairperson of the NAC shall be entitled to the same salary, pay, allowances and other facilities to which a member of the Union Council of Minister is entitled. Under the special provision for a Member of Parliament appointed as the member of the NAC, it has been provided that the member shall not be entitled to draw any remuneration, allowances or perks as such member from the NAC other than the compensatory allowance as defined in clause (a) of the section 2 of the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959. Sonia Gandhi quit the NAC in March 2006 after the BJP- led Opposition alleged that she had violated the office of profit principle. Gandhi had also resigned from her Lok Sabha seat. But later despite winning the Rae Bareilly by poll, she kept herself away from the NAC.