The Hindu : National : Opposition should discuss problems with Government, says Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 29, 2004

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National

Opposition should discuss problems with Government, says Congress

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 28. The Congress today continued its attack on the decision of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Opposition, the National Democratic Alliance, to boycott the Parliamentary Standing Committees and at the same time asked them to respond to the Prime Minister's appeal to resume parliamentary work.

The Congress said that the Opposition should discuss the problems with the Government instead of "casting aspersions.'' The party spokesperson, Jayanti Natarjan said the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh and the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad would do everything in this regard and recalled that Dr. Singh had already asked the Opposition to reconsider its approach and return to Parliament.

Asked whether the Government was contemplating the convening of a meeting of all political parties to end the stalemate, Ms. Natarajan said she was not aware of it. She also said the party was not aware whether the Government would consider a reported suggestion by the Opposition that it may relent if the statement by the Leader of the Lok Sabha, Pranab Mukherjee was withdrawn.

`BJP's attitude'

Ms. Natarajan said that the BJP's attitude had resulted in the party being voted out of power and warned that continuing on the path could result in the party being voted out even from the Opposition. She also said that it had a history of` "wasting tax-payers money'', when it was in power, through the India Shining campaign and when it was not in power by staying away from parliamentary committees.

The Communist Party of India general secretary, A.B. Bardhan described the BJP approach as "high handed'' and "confrontationist.'' He said the decision to boycott parliamentary committees set up by the Speaker was unprecedented.

On the reported move that the BJP was willing to relent, provided the move came from the ruling coalition, Mr. Bardhan said the Opposition should realise that parliamentary committees were not a creation of the Government.

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