Exempt Parliamentary Secretary post, says Nitish

While Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has requested the Centre to find ways to get the post of Parliamentary Secretary exempt from the office-of-profit category, the Government on Monday indicated it was ready to accept any ‘‘genuine amendments’’ moved by a political party to the proposed Bill to be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

‘‘If there is a genuine amendment moved by the opposition that can further plug the loopholes (in the Bill), the Government is prepared to accept it,’’ Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said. A large number of MLAs are facing the threat of disqualification for holding the post of Parliamentary Secretary. With the trimming of the state cabinets, this post has become a sop for those who miss cabinet berths.