BJP raps SP, Cong for stalling House proceedings

NEW DELHI, DEC 12: BJP on Tuesday hit out at the Opposition parties in Parliament, especially the Samajwadi Party and Congress, for stalli...

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NEW DELHI, DEC 12: BJP on Tuesday hit out at the Opposition parties in Parliament, especially the Samajwadi Party and Congress, for stalling proceedings in both the Houses on the Ayodhya issue and demanding resignation of three Union Ministers saying their actions had "affected the image of Parliament".

Addressing the Parliamentary Party meeting here, Home Minister L K Advani said whatever was happening in Parliament had affected its image and "would be counterproductive for Opposition parties".

He told the meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, that it was because of "competition" between Congress and Samajwadi Party that the proceedings were disrupted even before the remarks by Vajpayee.

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Advani said the disruption of proceedings began from the time of the adjournment motion on farmers and these two parties were in the forefront, party spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra told newsmen here.

Malhotra said the Home Minister told members that Congress’ first motion on the issue was unacceptable to Lok Sabha Speaker G M C Balayogi and "it was done only to run away from a debate."

Welcoming the Speaker’s decision to admit a discussion under Rule 184 seeking to censure the Government, Malhotra said "we were prepared for discussion on any issue under any rule. This had always been our stand".

A five-member team which had visited Kannur in Kerala, where there had been violence, suggested the need to strengthen the party activities and frequent visits by National leaders and central ministers.