Dharmendra is selling auto finance to truckers on behalf of Sriram Transport Finance Company. Hema Malini is endorsing Kent water purifiers when not asking us to pick up loans from Bank of Rajasthan. Govinda is exhorting us to use Navratna herbal hair oil. Shabana Azmi is batting for Surf-Excel detergent powder. Navjot Sidhu is asking us to plug into Luminous inverters and asking us to enrol into Veta English speaking courses, when not making a fool of himself on the Great Indian Laughter Challenge and assorted shows.
No problem with that? The problem is Dharmendra is a Lok Sabha MP from Bikaner. Mrs Dharmendra is a nominated Rajya Sabha member. Govinda represents Bombay Norh-east. Shabana used to be in the upper house till two years ago. And Sidhu represents Amritsar.
Do we elect our MPs for this—to sell us products for a fee; to make money on the side—or do we elect them and underwrite their salaries to make policy? Are they just making good use of their star-power, or are they being plain greedy? And how silly does the office of profit controversy seem in front of this kind of avarice?
The question should have rocked the parliament and assemblies exactly the issue of office to profit did. Then many things will be cleared.
I thought “office of profit” is implying “govt office of profit”.
I dont see anything wrong in what these MPs are doing, as long as it is legal and decent.
I expect the reps to earn for their livilihood expenses by such proper means.
I am not expecting that the govt allowances for them will be enough neither I want them to use corruptive actions.
Last but not least, they became MPs using their film popularity.
They are using the same for ad money also.
Thats all.
I think Umesha’s point is very valid. MPs can and should earn their keep by proper means. People from all spheres of life (not just politicians or social workers) should be encouraged to be part of the legislative process. And they could continue to be associated with their original profession. It is not expected that only professional politicians join the political stream.
In the case of celebrities they could openly endorse products using their celebrity status as long as they are not part of any campaign that is harmful to society.
Of course, they should not earn a profit of any kind from the office they hold.