New Delhi: Joining other NDA (National Democratic Alliance) leaders, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today (Aug 26, 2004) attacked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his "impolite" and "unbecoming conduct" towards an alliance delegation and asked the Government to build bridges with the Opposition during Parliament's intersession recess.

Addressing a press conference after a 90-minute long meeting of NDA Parliamentary group, he deeply regretted that Opposition MPs had to stay away from Parliament today with "much reluctance" in protest against the Prime Minister's refusal to accept a memorandum from NDA leaders yesterday (Aug 25, 2004).

"Singh has certainly not set a good example by being impolite with the NDA delegation and not showing the basic courtesy of receiving their memorandum," Vajpayee, flanked by NDA Convenor George Fernandes, Leaders of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha L K Advani and Jaswant Singh, said.

Pointing out that Singh had "only the other day" exhorted the political class about the "code of conduct", the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader said, "I have regards for Singh as a person but he does not seem to be aware of the unwritten code of political conduct that should guide the interaction between the Prime Minister and senior leaders of Opposition."

"I urge the Government to utilise the period between the present and the next session of the Parliament to engage the Opposition parties in a constructive dialogue. Let both the Government and Opposition shoulder their respective responsibilities to ensure that the next session of Parliament becomes more productive," he said in a statement.