BJP slams Cong for walking out too often

The BJP here today described the Congress as the ‘‘walk-out party,’’ given the frequency at which it was resorting to th...

The BJP here today described the Congress as the ‘‘walk-out party,’’ given the frequency at which it was resorting to this mode of protest in Parliament.

BJP parliamentary party spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said the Congress and other Opposition parties staged a walk-out in the Lok Sabha even after Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee clarified his stand on Ayodhya today. ‘‘This is extremely objectionable,’’ he said.

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Malhotra pointed out that this was the fourth time when the Congress had staged a walkout on the Ayodhya issue during the current session. He said, it did ‘‘not behove’’ the Congress, which had been in power for over 43 years, to do so. He advised the Congress to let Parliament take up other issues too, besides Ayodhya.

The BJP spokesman recalled that the Congress had staged a walk-out in protest against a ruling by the Speaker. On three occasions, the party had walked out against the rejection of notices for adjournment motions. Congress members trooped out of the two Houses whenever Defence Minister George Fernandes spoke. ‘‘This is against parliamentary norms,’’ he observed.

Referring to the allegation that the BJP was trying to make an electoral use of Ayodhya, Malhotra said the matter had been raised by the Opposition. ‘‘When they (Opposition) raise the issue, we have to respond to it,’’ he added.

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