New Delhi: Congress on August 18 said it had no objection to George Fernandes speaking on the no- confidence motion, moved by party chief Sonia Gandhi, but asserted that the Defence Minister's boycott will continue.

"Fernandes' boycott will continue. But today (August 18) it is a different matter in the wake of a no- confidence motion moved by Gandhi against Vajpayee's government. Any member of the house is free to speak on the motion", party spokesman Pawan Kumar Bansal told reporters.

However, he said any attempt on the part of the Defence Minister to make a separate statement on Defence matters or on Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) report would be boycotted by the party. In this regard, he referred to Business Advisory Committee listing a statement by Fernandes on August 18 evening.

He said the party has no objection to Fernandes speaking on the motion, as he is member of the House and leader of a party.

"He is free to speak on the motion as a private member, leader of a party or even on behalf of the government", he said adding that "we will listen to him on the motion".

Gandhi would be meeting leaders of like-minded Opposition parties to finalise the floor strategy on August 18.

While Gandhi, who has moved the no-confidence motion against the government, would be initiating the debate, senior party leaders including Shivraj Patil, S Jaipal Reddy, Priyananjan Dasmunsi and Mani Shanker Aiyar would be speaking on behalf of the party on the motion.

PTI