The Hindu : National : `Congress should introspect'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 28, 2004

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National

`Congress should introspect'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 27. The Bharatiya Janata Party president, M. Venkaiah Naidu, today asked the United Progressive Alliance Government to "come to its senses" and said the "Congress should introspect" on why the confrontation between the ruling parties and the Opposition had reached a flashpoint.

Mr. Naidu said "the UPA had not won a clear and decisive mandate" through Verdict 2004 but only a mandate to follow a consensual path as opposed to the 1999 mandate clearly in favour of the National Democratic Alliance. In a democracy it was the Government's responsibility to seek the Opposition's cooperation.

He criticised the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, for describing the Opposition decision to opt out of all parliamentary committees as reckless and irresponsible, saying "the Congress and the Left should introspect who forced the Opposition to take this step."

The Opposition was prepared to play a constructive role. Asked what specific steps he wanted the Government to take, he said: "They should stop this confrontation."

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