Wednesday, May 11 2005 11:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi today (May 11, 2005) said that boycott of Parliament by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was its "tactics" to sidetrack its internal dissentions and disarray to issues that have no substantive content.

"The BJP, with its tactics, is attempting to take away from its internal dissentions and its total disarray to issues that have no consistent or substantive content," Sonia said addressing the general body meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP).

Sonia, who is the chairperson of the CPP, said if it was not, then why the saffron party have not accepted the offer of the Prime Minister to discuss any of the issues agitating them.

"Our legislative accomplishments would have been more satisfying had the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) been present. As you all know, Prime Minister went out of his way to talk to NDA leadership individually to persuade them to end their self-imposed boycott," she told the general body attended by party MPs from both the Houses.

"But for whatever reason, they chose to stay away. They kept inventing one excuse after other to justify their boycott," Sonia said.

"Worse" than that, the UPA chairperson said they tried to justify their actions by spreading canards against the Prime Minister himself, and that too in an extremely crude and offensive language.

Defending the Prime Minister, she said not even our most bitter critic can accuse him of being "arrogant, subjective or inconsiderate". Yet, this is what the BJP has done. All of you must explain to your constituents how Parliamentary democracy has been subverted so blatantly by those who often talked of "Maryada".

Sonia said Congress too had agitated while in Opposition but it was related to Tehelka expose, Gujarat riots, CAG indictments on coffins purchased for Kargil martyrs, sale of PSUs at undervalued prices, scams on petrol pumps, land allotments and BJP leaders caught-on camera taking bribes.

Referring to CAG report on the disinvestment of two hotels in Mumbai during the NDA Government, she said it confirmed party's stand that they have been done in "most non-transparent manner, which caused substantial losses to the Government".

"I am sure that the Government will take appropriate follow-up action," she said reminding that the CAG report has revealed that Public Funds were used to support the so-called "India Shining Campaign".

Sonia said the "brazen manner" in which the Phukan Commission of Inquiry into the Tehelka scam was sought to be influenced by those under investigation also came to the light late in the session and has "vindicated our position".

Referring to the session, the UPA chairperson said a number of Bills have been passed, which included the most important "Right to Information Bill", that demonstrates the Congress party's commitment to transparency in administration, at all levels.

"This historic legislation will provide people with a powerful tool to demand accountability from Central and State Governments as well as from Panchayats," she said.

However, the Congress Chief said a number of Bills like those relating to the creation of a National Disaster Management Authority, Granting of Central University status to Manipur University, etc have been introduced.

Standing Committee reports on Bills, like the ones concerning amendments to the Hindu Succession Act to ensure greater equality and a Representation Act to codify existing executive orders relating to reservations for SCs/STs are likely to be received today.

"Unfortunately", she said because of the boycott, the standing Committee's report on the historic Rural Employment Guarantee Act, a key pledge of the UPA Government in its National Common Minimum Program (NCMP), has not been received. Had it been, we would have passed the Act," Sonia said.

The UPA chairperson said a record number of Bills in the current session have been passed and a detailed booklet on this would be available to all the MPs before they disperse after sine die.