NDA boycotts House, slams PM: Will ask Kalam today to fire Laloo

Unfazed by the NDA boycott, Laloo hit back at the BJP after separate meetings with the Prime Minister and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

‘‘I have sought the dismissal of (Chief Minister Narendra) Modi and imposition of President’s rule in Gujarat. I stick to my stand. There is no question of my resignation from the Government, this protest by NDA is only a diversionary tactic,’’ he told reporters.

But BJP’s Vijay Kumar Malhotra said the NDA would ‘‘apprise the President of the stalemate and the UPA government’s attitude towards the Opposition which has compelled us to boycott Parliament.’’

Malhotra said the NDA would bring to Kalam’s attention the framing of charges against Laloo in the fodder scam case and the Supreme Court’s observation on the Centre’s decision not to appeal against the Income Tax tribunal’s order favouring Laloo.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister spoke to Leader of Opposition L K Advani and suggested a meeting to end the impasse. But Advani rejected the offer: ‘‘I told him (PM) that it was not the decision of a single individual but a unanimous decision taken by all members of the NDA. We will meet on Monday and decide our future strategy.’’

NDA convenor George Fernandes, flanked by Advani and other senior BJP MPs, read out a strongly worded three-page statement, demanding the resignation of Laloo and accusing the Government of adopting ‘‘a vindictive, confrontationist and hostile attitude’’ towards the Opposition.

The NDA statement was particularly harsh on Manmohan Singh. While the Prime Minister had secured the resignation of Shibu Soren, he had ‘‘obdurately stonewalled’’ pleas for the dismissal of Laloo and his colleagues ‘‘only because his government is critically dependent on the support of the RJD,’’ it stated.

The statement went on to accuse the PM ‘‘of practising the worst kind of political opportunism in retaining these ministers, brushing aside all moral principles, scruples and democratic propriety.’’

The NDA claimed that the two governments led by Vajpayee maintained the ‘‘highest standards of probity’’ with a number of ministers resigning from the Government in light of allegations or chargesheets.

Brushing aside the charge that Advani, M M Joshi and Uma Bharati did not quit the Government despite being chargesheeted in the Babri demolition case, it said the Ayodhya cases ‘‘relate to a movement and have nothing to do with corruption.’’

In reply to questions, Advani reiterated that there was no justification in comparing the Ayodhya cases with those against Laloo.

The NDA also accused the Government ‘‘of setting new and absolutely unacceptable norms of political conduct’’, ‘‘brazenly trying to defend the indefensible’’ and ‘‘of gagging the voice of the Opposition.’’

‘‘The privileges, rights and dignity of the Opposition have been consistently trampled upon by the ruling coalition. Parliamentary decency, norms and standards have been thrown to the winds. The Government’s message is loud and clear—the Opposition is not needed,’’ the NDA stated.

Despite the assertion that ‘‘this state of affairs is not acceptable to the NDA’’, the Opposition has no plans yet to permanently boycott Parliament, sources said.

The boycott decision, sources said, is part of a strategy to keep the spotlight on Laloo and tainted ministers and ensure that the Government takes a more conciliatory attitude towards the Opposition.

Another major target, sources said, was Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee. BJP MPs privately accuse him of being partisan and taking his job description too seriously—that is, speaking all the time.

In fact, the charge that ‘‘privileges, rights and dignity of the Opposition have been consistently trampled upon’’ is directed more at the Speaker than the treasury benches, sources said.

NDA leaders decided not to mention the Speaker’s role in today’s statement but the mood among party MPs indicated that the confrontation with Chatterjee was likely to continue.