Thursday, May 5 2005 13:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Taking "objection" to United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) attack on National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders in Parliament in the absence of Opposition members, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today (May 5, 2005) directed its MPs to visit their constituencies to counter the Government's allegations and "expose" the ruling combine.

The UPA should not be allowed to go scot-free and it has been decided to "expose" the Government "aggressively" through press conferences and campaign throughout the country by Opposition MPs in their respective constituencies, BJP Parliamentary party spokesman V K Malhotra told reporters after the Parliamentary Party meeting, chaired by party president L K Advani.

It was also decided that the NDA leaders would attend the meetings of Parliamentary Committees after May 13 when the Budget Session ends, Malhotra said.

The hour-long meeting deliberated on the NDA decision to boycott the Parliamentary proceedings and "objected" to "cheap and demeaning allegations" levelled by UPA members including Ministers, he said.

Equating the current situation to the one, which existed during the Emergency, the BJP leader said, "During that time also allegations were levelled similarly against Opposition during their boycott of the Houses."

Listing the issues that the Opposition intends to rake up against the Government, Malhotra mentioned Telgi stamp paper scam, Bihar flood relief scam, fodder scam - allegedly involving Railway Minister Laloo Prasad and that of "tainted" Ministers.

He accused the Government of "playing with internal security" of the country but did not elaborate.

The BJP leader maintained that the Opposition was "compelled" to boycott Parliament because it had "no alternative".

The party also released a booklet titled 'Why this boycott' to put forth its argument for abstaining from the House proceedings.

Alleging that the Government was pursuing "anti-farmer policies", the meeting expressed concern over agriculturists not getting minimum support price (MSP) for their produce.