NEW DELHI: The Congress is upset with the former External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh, who gave a breach of privilege notice against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The mood among party MPs is sullen. At least two Central Ministers made it known that the move by a senior leader like Mr. Natwar Singh was "unbecoming" of a person who occupied a high post in the party and the Government.

"What Mr. Natwar Singh did against the party Prime Minister was clearly an act of crossing the Lakshman Rekha [of discipline] and party MPs are angry and anguished," Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said.

Addressing a press conference, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said that while it was the right of any member to bring a privilege motion against another member, personally he felt it "was unbecoming of a responsible member of any political party to bring any such kind of a thing against the leader".

Mr. Dasmunsi said the party would study the report of the Justice Pathak Inquiry Authority, which was tabled in Parliament on Monday along with Action Taken Report, and a "desirable and appropriate response will come at an appropriate time."

Mr. Natwar Singh has been relieved of his responsibility as secretary of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust. Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit will be performing the duty.

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