Ethics panel quizzes Ramesh on corporate lobbying by MPs

The Lok Sabha ethics committee has decided to examine environment minister Jairam Ramesh's complaint that MPs are lobbying for corporate entities. 

The minister, who had appeared before the panel on 29 March, had earlier written to speaker Meira Kumar saying there were "serious conflict of interest" issues concerning MPs. The letter was referred to the ethics committee, which summoned the minister to corroborate his complaint. 

On the basis of the minister's presentation, the committee, headed by Manikrao Gavit, decided to examine the issue further. The panel's next meeting will be held on 19 April. Ramesh is understood to have told the committee that members lobbying for projects have even written letters to him in identical language. 

However, Tuesday's meeting of the 15-member panel was attended by only six members  Gavit (Congress), T R Baalu (DMK), Raipati Sambasiva Rao (Congress), Asauddin Owaisi (AIMM), Premdas Rai (Sikkim Democratic Front) and Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI). 

The committee, which was of the view that the issue required an in-depth examination, asked the minister to produce before it all concerned documents and letters from members.

This is the first time that a minister has complained to the speaker on MPs approaching the government on behalf of corporate entities. 

The panel is understood to have taken the stand that a member's obligation to act in public interest needs to be given precedence over personal interest and that an MP should strike a balance between his duties as a legislator and a public representative. As of now, there are no clear-cut norms for behaviour of an MP on what constitutes unethical conduct.