BJP barks at Centre, but says it won’t bite

Claiming that the UPA government has “crossed all limits”, the BJP on Tuesday declared a “total breakdown” of the relationship between the principal Opposition and the government by announcing boycott of meetings called by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath.

The decision was taken after Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj was forced to cut shot her speech in Lok Sabha.

At the same time, she said her party will not move noconfidence motion against the government.

Sources disclosed after staging a walkout, the issue was discussed with both BJP parliamentary party working chairman L.K. Advani and BJP chief Rajnath Singh after which it was decided that party will boycott the Speaker and parliamentary affair minister’s meetings.

Earlier, Ms Swaraj alleged it was UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi who “instigated” her party members to create disturbances when she was lambasting the government for scams and justifying the weeklong protests by the BJP and other parties, just before the Finance Bill was tabled in the Lower House.

Ms Swaraj also alleged that the Speaker did not intervene as she should

BJP discussed moving a no-trust motion but settled for a boycott of meetings called by the Speaker and the parliamentary affairs minister

have. The BJP and other Opposition parties had staged a walkout when the Finance Bill was tabled.

Announcing that “countdown of the government has begun”, Ms Swaraj said she felt “let down by the Congress president” and blamed her for “instigating” Congress members to create disturbances and not allowing her to speak for “even five minutes.”

Ms Swaraj said it was decided in the Business Advisory Committee meeting that she would speak on the issue of coal blocks allocation and the BJP would allow passage of the Finance Bill on Tuesday to prevent it from lapsing.

“It is clear that only what Sonia Gandhi wants will happen in the House,” Ms Swaraj said. The Speaker is reportedly upset with the allegations and has sought a clarification from Ms Swaraj.

The Congress dismissed Ms Swaraj’s allegations against Mrs Gandhi claiming that it was an “excuse” to disrupt the House.