Tuesday, April 19 2005 08:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) last night (Apr 18, 2005) threatened to stall the proceedings of Parliament, whose budget session resumes today (Apr 19, 2005), to press for withdrawal of the second affidavit filed before the Supreme Court against former Defence Minister George Fernandes in Kargil weapon purchases cases.

"We strongly condemn the second affidavit. We will raise the matter right from the time the House meets tomorrow. We will demand withdrawal of the fraudulent affidavit," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesman V K Malhotra told reporters after a two-hour meeting of NDA yesterday.

Asked about the mode of protest NDA would adopt, he said the matter would be raised forcefully. "We will raise it at the beginning of the Question Hour. If the Speaker allows, the House will function. Otherwise, there may be disruptions," he said.

Malhotra said NDA would also demand the Phukan Commission report on Tehelka expose and the Central Vigilance Committee (CVC) report on the Defence deals be tabled in the House.

He accused the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government of acting at the behest of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and misusing CBI.

Charging Congress with playing a "negative role", the BJP spokesman alleged it was Sonia Gandhi who had called Fernandes "taboot chor (casket thief)" during the poll campaign.

But after the first affidavit that is perceived to have given Fernandes a clean chit, a "fraudulent" affidavit was later filed to frame him, he charged.

The NDA meeting at former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's residence was attended by alliance convenor George Fernandes, BJP president L K Advani and representatives from Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Dal (BJD) among others.