George to pay for Govt’s ‘silence’

The Congress also flayed the ruling NDA for criticising the manner in which party president Sonia Gandhi spoke. ‘‘It only shows the narrow-minded attitude of the BJP and its allies,’’ Chaturvedi said. ‘‘When Sonia Gandhi was speaking, objectionable accusations and language was used by the NDA. Though the Prime Minister was present, he did not object to the behaviour of his colleagues,’’ Chaturvedi said.

On why the Congress objected to the Bill on banning cow slaughter, he said: ‘‘The Congress’ objection was only that in such a diverse country as ours such a matter, which is a state subject, must be left to the state governments to judge.’’

Asked on why Congress-ruled states like Kerala do not have such a legislation, he said: ‘‘If the BJP is so keen, they why do they not have such a ban in Goa or Nagaland?’’

‘‘More than the Congress, it is the NDA constituents who are against the Bill because the BJP did not take them into confidence before bringing the bill,’’ he added.

‘‘It has become a habit with the BJP to launch such ideas without discussing with the NDA allies as it happened on the proposal for holding simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha and Assemblies,’’ he said.