The Hindu : National : BJP running away from discussion, says Congress

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Tuesday, Jul 06, 2004

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National

BJP running away from discussion, says Congress

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 5. The Congress today accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of "running away from any discussion" in Parliament and charged that the party was adopting "double standards" with regard to its interpretation of "tainted" Ministers.

On a day when both Houses of Parliament were adjourned following noisy protests by the BJP-led Opposition over the inclusion of "tainted" Ministers in the Manmohan Singh Government, the Congress said the conduct of the BJP showed it was "graceless in defeat."

"The BJP has demonstrated its lack of respect for parliamentary forum and made it clear that it was for a path of confrontation. It is running away from any discussion or informed debate through which concerns of the people can be taken up and people can then be informed of views/position of the United Progressive Alliance Government, its supporting parties as well as the viewpoint of the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance," the Congress spokesperson, Anand Sharma, said. By being "obstructive and negative," the BJP had once again `showed' that it was unable to accept its rejection by people.

On the issue of stalling Parliament proceedings, he said that when the Congress was in the Opposition, it had extended constructive cooperation on matters of national interest; it was only after the Tehelka expose that the party had disrupted proceedings. That too, he said, was to register its protest over the decision of the then Prime Minister Vajpayee, to re-induct George Fernandes into the Cabinet after claiming that he would not be taken back till the Tehelka commission of inquiry exonerated him.

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