New Delhi: Anguished over frequent disruptions in Parliament, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Aug 26, 2004) said time had come for political parties to evolve a code of conduct for behaving inside and outside the House.

"We should look inside us. All political parties must evolve a code of conduct for behaving inside and outside Parliament," Singh said in his brief customary speech in Rajya Sabha at the end of the truncated budget session.

Observing that budget session is the time when MPs discuss mobilisation of resources and proper utilisation of funds, the Prime Minister regretted that "this has not happened this time".

He said it was a "sad reflection" and asked if Parliament was not allowed to function, "where are we leading this country to?"

Singh said he hoped "the Opposition will play the game according to prescribed rules of parliamentary democracy".