Friday, April 29 2005 10:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Congress yesterday (Apr 28, 2005) dismissed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) allegations that efforts were made to prevent Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf from meeting former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his recent visit and accused the saffron party of "misleading" the people.

"There is no truth in that. No attempts have been made from Government side to prevent a meeting between Vajpayee and Musharraf," Party spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters when asked about reports in this regard.

He said it has become the habit of the BJP to accuse the ruling party and the Government. "It is their mindset. It is pathetic as they are making such allegations after Vajpayee held a long talk with Musharraf at his residence. What comment should be made," he said.

Sharma also rejected BJP-led National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) charge that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government was resorting to political vendetta and was attempting to "isolate" the opposition. "Such a charge cannot be justified as the party, which was boycotting Parliament was continuously disrupting it," he said.

Accusing the saffron party of adopting "confrontationist" approach ever since UPA Government came to power, he said instead of fulfilling the role of "constructive and responsible" Opposition, they resorted to "disruption and boycott" of Parliament on flimsy grounds.

Asserting that the Congress-led UPA Government's was following a policy of "consultation, reconciliation and dialogue" unlike the NDA, which seldom took Opposition into confidence on national and international issues, Sharma said the Prime Minister consulted Opposition parties on the visit of the Pakistan President, the Chinese Prime Minister and developments in Nepal, besides holding detailed discussions on important issues like Patent Bill and on economic reforms.

Sharma charged the BJP with adopting "negative" attitude towards the UPA Government and its chairperson Sonia Gandhi when she was elected to head the coalition, "crossing all decency and Parliamentary norms".

Stating that there was "genetic" difference between "them and us" (NDA and UPA), he said they (BJP) were the same people who 18 years ago had raised the Bofors controversy and targeted Rajiv Gandhi. Even after his assassination, they included his name in the chargesheet.

"Now they talk that raising or discussing Defence deals under former Defence Minister George Fernandes would demoralise forces. This is most uncalled for," he said adding that inquiry has been ordered into Defence deals where even CAG and PAC have indicted the procurements.

On their boycott when Finance Bill was being discussed, he said last time too they did not participate in the discussion and went to Prime Minister's Office to present a memorandum in this regard.