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NDA to stall Parliament proceedings against tainted ministers
The BJP-led alliance has convened a meeting of all its MPs on Tuesday to discuss the strategy in both Houses of Parliament.
Amidst indications that NDA may boycott the presentation of Railway Budget by Laloo Yadav, the BJP-led alliance has convened a meeting of all its MPs on Tuesday to discuss the strategy in both Houses of Parliament even as it decided to stall proceedings till the tainted ministers are dropped.
Following a meeting of senior NDA leaders called by Leader of Opposition LK Advani on Monday morning, NDA MPs forced adjournment of the House demanding removal of tainted ministers from the UPA Government.
"We have decided to stick to our stand that we will not allow Parliament to transact any business till the 'tainted' ministers are dropped. Added to it is the governors' issue. We will vociferously raise both these issues in both the Houses and stall the proceedings," BJP Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha VK Malhotra said after the meeting.
Later, at an all-party meeting called by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, BJP conveyed its displeasure over the UPA Government's "attitude" to its demand for the removal of tainted ministers, party sources said.
Both Chatterjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had earlier appealed to the Opposition to allow the smooth conduct of the proceedings of Parliament and raise the issues on the floor of the House.
The removal of governors linked to the 'Sangh Parivar' on the eve of the Budget session has "served to add fuel to the Opposition's anger", BJP sources said.
Allowing the smooth presentation of the Railway Budget would send a "wrong message" that the Opposition has toned down on the issue of "tainted" ministers as it includes the Railway Minister, the sources said.
BJP is also launching a week-long nationwide 'Rashtriya Suraksha, Swabhiman and Loktantra Bachao' (national security, honour and save democracy) campaign from Tuesday under its 'Sansad se Sadak Tak' (Parliament to Streets) programme.
