Friday, February 25 2005 19:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Stepping up its offensive against the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government on the "tainted" Ministers issue, the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) today decided to boycott the presentation of railway budget by Laloo Prasad Yadav in Lok Sabha tomorrow (Feb 26, 2005).

A meeting of the NDA leaders chaired by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and attended among others by NDA convenor George Fernandes also decided to move an Adjournment Motion on the dismissal of Mohan Parrikar Government in Goa, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) spokesman V K Malhotra told reporters in New Delhi.

"We will continue to boycott all major statements by tainted Ministers and will not ask them questions till the time the issue (tainted Ministers) is not discussed and decided by Parliament as observed by the Supreme Court", Malhotra said.

He, however, said NDA members would take part in the discussions on the Budget.

The BJP leader, who was flanked by Fernandes, said the Opposition had listened to Laloo Prasad's statement on the Punjab rail mishap as an "exception, as many people had died in it".

"The Supreme Court had left it on the Parliament to decide. Till the time Parliament decides, we don't accept them as Ministers," he said adding the NDA also wanted to register its protest against the "illegal and immoral" constitution of the U C Banerjee Committee to probe the Godhra fire tragedy by the Railway Minister.

He said BJP and its allies would "vociferously demand that the Nanavati Commission report on the 1984 anti-Sikh riot be placed along with the Godhra report".

Besides leaders of the alliance like Ananth Geethe (Shiv Sena), Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav JDU (Janata Dal- United), Braj Kishore Tripathy (BJD) and S S Dhindsa (SAD), the meeting was also attended by Yerran Naidu of the TDP (Telugu Desam Party) "from the viewpoint of floor coordination", Malhotra said.

Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee could not attend the meeting, as she was not well, he said.

BJP President L K Advani and senior party leaders Jaswant Singh, Sushma Swaraj and Yashwant Sinha were present at the meeting.