Tuesday, August 1 2006 11:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Amid stiff Opposition resistance, Parliament yesterday (July 31, 2006) gave its approval without any change for the controversial Office of Profit Bill exempting 56 posts and giving reprieve to over 40 MPs who could have faced disqualification, a measure returned by President A P J Abdul Kalam for reconsideration.

At the end of an acrimonious day-long debate, the bill was passed in Lok Sabha with 230 voting in favour and 71 against, with Government expressing readiness to set up a Joint Parliamentary Committee to go into the definition of Office of Profit and other suggestions.

'Shame, shame', shouted members from the BJP-led opposition benches as Leader of Opposition L K Advani issued warning that the government could suffer judicial admonishment and made a forceful appeal for reconsideration.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee, who had been accused of violating Office of Profit, were not present in the House when the Bill was passed, and nor was Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, who is facing a disqualification petition on the issue.