Saturday, May 14 2005 15:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Terming as "sad and unfortunate" Opposition's three-week boycott of the budget session of Parliament, Government today (May 14, 2005) sought to turn the tables on the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance) on the issue of "tainted" Ministers saying the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) was following the precedent set by them.

"Nothing has happened from the Government side to make them upset and sit at home. They got upset on their own and stayed away," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters adding that boycott does not enhance the prestige of Parliament in any manner.

On the 'tainted' Ministers issue, he said there was no question of action by the Government in the matter as it was following the precedent of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who had held that whom to appoint a Minister was the prerogative of the Prime Minister.

Besides, the NDA had also argued that no one could be held guilty unless convicted by court, Azad said emphasising that the UPA was now following the footsteps of NDA.

He said earlier the Congress used to act swiftly against party Ministers or Chief Ministers after any court stricture was passed against them.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister appealed to the Opposition to take part in the proceedings of various parliamentary, standing and consultative committees during the inter-session period and in the monsoon session of Parliament.