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NDA to take decision on day-to-day basis
It will continue with its protest till the time the "Opposition is allowed to raise its voice on issues like corruption".
After participating in the discussions on the Finance Bill in Lok Sabha on Monday, the NDA on Tuesday decided to continue with its protest in both Houses of Parliament till the time the "Opposition is allowed to raise its voice on issues like corruption".
Taking exception to the continuance of Lalu Prasad as a union minister "despite charges being framed against him and Supreme Court passing strictures" on the Income Tax issue, a meeting of the NDA Parliamentary Party chaired by former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, decided to review its boycott decision on a day-to-day basis.
NDA had on Monday broken its three-day boycott of the Lok Sabha to "demonstrate its commitment to parliamentary duties" and to blow the whistle on the Government's claim that the Opposition had not taken part in the budgetary discussions for the second consecutive term.
"As the main Opposition party, the BJP-led NDA alliance cannot close eyes to the corruption charges including the flood relief scam. The people have not given us the role of a mute spectator. The people's mandate for us is to be a vigilant guard," BJP Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, flanked by several NDA leaders, told reporters in New Delhi after Tuesday's meeting.
"Our leaders are being humiliated. The Leader of Opposition is not allowed to speak. If we are not allowed to raise the issues, what's the point in remaining inside? We may as well remain outside and raise them," she said.
Dismissing suggestions that TDP was not with the NDA on the boycott issue, she said, "We spoke to TDP leader Yerran Naidu in the morning and he has assured us that his party fully supports us in the boycott decision."
Refuting reports that there were "differences" between Vajpayee and the Leader of the Oppositon, LK Advani, on the issue, the BJP spokesperson said, "There are absolutely no differences. Both are there in our Parliamentary Party meetings and it is a unanimous decision to boycott the Parliament."
