It is quite correct as my Friend Mr. Krishnamachari has said that my amendment is only to make matters clear because, as the official amendment stands, there is no clear indication where to begin the period of six months and how to count it. It may also be construed – though it may not appear a very correct interpretation – that the period may be counted even before he became a Minister, because it may be said that if a person is not a member of Parliament he cannot be appointed a Minister. Our object is that a person who is not a member of Parliament may be appointed Minister, but after that appointment he must become a member within six months and must continue to be a member afterwards. Therefore my amendment is:
“That in amendment No. 446 of List XX, in clause (5) of article 62, for the proposed words ‘who for any period of six consecutive months is not a member’ the words ‘who after the date of his appointment, is for any period of six consecutive months not a member’, be substituted.”