M A I N   N E W S

Opposition says PM’s remarks insulting
Tribune News Service

New Delhi May 6
The political war between the NDA and the UPA appears to turning uglier every passing day as the Opposition alliance today charged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with “insulting” it and ridiculed him of having no “control” either over the party or the government.

The NDA, which held an impromptu meeting chaired by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, took a serious view of the Prime Minister’s statement in the Rajya Sabha yesterday, saying that it had made it difficult for the Opposition alliance to cooperate with the government.

The meeting also decided to continue the boycott of Parliament during the current session, ending May 13.

Giving reasons for the NDA boycott, a statement, issued after the meeting, said: “That is why we are sadly led to the conclusion that the government and the UPA in their scheme of things, have no regard for the Opposition, do not, in fact, seek its cooperation, and are perfectly content with a truncated Parliament, by keeping the Opposition out, so that they can thereafter manipulate the legislature for partisan purpose”.

“I am here to share the disappointment of the NDA at the tone, tenor and content” of the Prime Minister’s statement, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Jaswant Singh told newspersons after the 45-minute meeting at Mr Vajpayee’s residence.

Mr Jaswant Singh alleged that the Prime Minister “does not know what is happening in this government and does not control the government and his party.” However, he declined not to go any further despite being pressed for clarifications.

Referring to the PMO spokesman’s comment that the NDA was “childish”, the BJP leader said by following it up with yesterday’s statement, the Prime Minister had added “insult to injury. How can they expect us to cooperate (in this situation).”

On the Prime Minister’s statement regarding the NDA charge in a memorandum to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam that the government had attempted to prevail upon Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on not meeting Mr Vajpayee, he said Manmohan Singh was off the mark.

Mr Jaswant Singh said the NDA memorandum submitted to Dr Kalam had only said “it is reported” that there was an attempt to prevent General Musharraf’s meeting with Mr Vajpayee and was not attributable to the Opposition alliance.

“Till yesterday, nobody rebutted or refuted or countered this report,” the BJP leader said and termed the Prime Minister’s remarks in this regard as “deeply offensive” and “not acceptable”.

He charged the government with showing “utter disregard” for the Opposition.

Another leader Sushma Swaraj said the Prime Minister’s statement reflected the government’s attitude that it did not want the Opposition and hence the NDA boycott would continue till the end of the Budget session on May 13.

Mrs Swaraj said the Prime Minister allowed his Media Adviser Sanjay Baru to call the Opposition “childish” and this could not be accepted.

The meeting was attended by NDA Convener George Fernandes, BJP President L.K. Advani and other senior BJP leaders.

Mr Jaswant Singh said the NDA meeting also took “strong objection” to the “misuse” of the Opposition’s absence in Parliament to level all kinds of charges against its leaders.

On the issue of use of IAF helicopters by Justice S.N. Phukan to travel to Maharashtra, he termed it as an “artificial issue”.

On the TDP delinking itself from the boycott, she said: “it is not a part of the NDA but still it has so far joined our boycott.” But now, the TDP wants to express opposition in Parliament, she said.

LS adjourned twice
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 6
The treasury benches today faced embarrassment when the Lok Sabha was adjourned twice due to lack of quorum during the post-lunch session.

The second adjournment came during private members' business when the House was discussing relief measures for workers in agrarian sector.