Parliament to-day [May 19, New Delhi] adopted an official Bill banning donations by companies to any political party and abolishing the managing agency system. The Bill, which was passed by the Rajya Sabha to-day, had been adopted by the Lok Sabha last week. Replying to the debate, the Minister for Industrial Development and Company Affairs, Mr. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, vehemently denied charges of “corrupt practice” against his Ministry levelled by Mr. Raj Narain (S.S.P.). Mr. Ahmed bluntly told the House: “I am not going to resign at the dictates of Mr. Raj Narain. My political life is clean – perhaps cleaner than that of the honourable member.” The Minister replied to two specific charges made by the member during the debate on Saturday last [May 17]. As Mr. Raj Narain angrily interrupted him, the Deputy Chairman, Mrs. Violet Alva, said he should listen to the reply, and she would not allow the interruptions to go on record.
