NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party has signalled that it will adopt an aggressive posture in Parliament when the winter session begins on November 23 by vociferously demanding the resignations of Congress president Sonia Gandhi from the office of chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance and of Natwar Singh as Cabinet Minister.

BJP deputy leader in the Lok Sabha V.K. Malhotra told reporters on Wednesday that already 40 notices had been given demanding discussions on various issues of national concern, including the allegations of kickbacks by the Volcker Committee Report and claims by the author of the Mitrokhin Archives that the Soviet intelligence agency KGB paid moneys to the Congress.

The BJP Parliamentary Party will meet on November 23 morning while the National Democratic Alliance will meet in the evening to finalise the Opposition's parliamentary strategy.

Mr. Malhotra did not rule out moving adjournment notices, which would have to be done just 24 hours ahead of any day of the session.

"Parliament will be rocked in the winter session.

The Volcker Report and the Mitrokhin papers are not about simple corruption. It is as if the country is for auction. We have asked for debates under Rule 184 [that entails a vote]," Mr. Malhotra said.

He did not think the re-induction of Mr. George Fernandes as Defence Minister even while the inquiry into the Tehelka affair was in progress fell into the same category as the continuation of Mr. Natwar Singh as a Minister without portfolio though the External Affairs portfolio has been taken away from him.

Mr. Malhotra, who also holds charge as a spokesperson for the BJP Parliamentary Party, said the Indian state had become "soft and pulpy."

He cited the naxal violence in Bihar, the Delhi bomb blasts and the daily explosions in the Kashmir Valley as a cause for concern.

The Opposition would raise these issues forcefully.

However, while he was critical of the "threats" issued by the Left parties on India's vote on Iran — the Left wants that corrected — Mr. Malhotra dismissed their stand as "empty threats" that are never carried out on the floor of the House.

Mr. Malhotra did not say what the BJP's position was on the crucial nuclear deal with the United States.

"So far the BJP has no position on the Iran vote," he admitted, adding that on Thursday a meeting had been scheduled at the residence of the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to discuss precisely this and formulate the party stand.

The BJP is also counting on favourable Bihar election results the day before Parliament starts and the detailed judgment of the Supreme Court on the Bihar Assembly dissolution matter to add to its morale.

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