Make law for mandatory disclosure of MLAs' assets every year: Cong legislator

The former Congress President of HP Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu called for a legislation to make it mandatory for MLAs to declare their assets publicly which will bring transparency in politics. At this, the Speaker said that Sukhu's request for presenting the motion in the next session will be considered after it will refer to Ethics Committee of the House.

Shimla(Himachal Pradesh): Congress leader Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday called for a legislation, making it mandatory for MLAs to declare their assets and liabilities every year.

According to Sukhu, this will "bring transparency in politics".

He and 10 other Congress MLAs asked the Speaker Rajiv Bindal to allow him to present a motion in the next assembly session for enacting the legislation.

They made the request after they were not allowed to do so on the private members' business day on Thursday during the ongoing Monsoon Session.

"Such legislation is required as people keep raising questions about the assets of the elected representatives," Sukhu, the former Himachal Pradesh(HP) Congress President, said.

"Every person files an affidavit declaring assets and liabilities while contesting elections and MLAs also provide such details while filing their income tax returns every year. Still, a legislation can make it mandatory for the MLAs to make public their assets and liabilities annually is required to bring transparency in politics," he added.

At this, the Speaker said that Sukhu's request for presenting the motion on Thursday had been put before the Ethics Committee of the House.

He further said that the Congress leader's request for presenting the motion in the next assembly session will be considered.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister(CM) Jai Ram Thakur also said that Sukhu's request will be considered with an open mind.