Ahmedabad, Nov 12: In the backdrop of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's repeated attacks on Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Italian origin in poll campaign, his government today said it is contemplating changes in the law to restrict people of `foreign origin' from holding any post in the local self-governing body. "A three-member committee headed by Law Minister Ashok Bhatt has been constituted to look into the legalities and other aspects for amendments in the law," Gujarat government spokesman and Health Minister I K Jadeja told reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting here today. The proposed provisions would restrict a person with `foreign origin' from holding any post in the Gram Panchayat, Taluka Panchayat, District Panchayat, Municipalities and Municipal Corporations even if he or she has `Indian Citizenship', he said. These amendments have been contemplated following "popular" demand that "it is quintessential that a person with Indian origin, who is well versed with the local problems, public sentiments, deep knowledge of culture and established traditions, holds the top post in civic bodies at the grass root levels," Jadeja claimed. "Considering these demands, it is necessary that such provisions are made which would enable only a person born in India, who can solve people's problems by putting them into proper perspective and understand their sentiments," he said.


Bureau Report