Monday, July 11 2005 14:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Asserting that it was the duty of the Opposition to raise "burning" issues, the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) today (July 11, 2005) said it would confront the Government by taking up issues like the recent terrorist attack in Ayodhya and price rise during the monsoon session of Parliament commencing later this month.

"We also want the Parliament to run smoothly. But there are issues that have to be highlighted. It is the duty of the Opposition to raise issues like the terrorist attack on the Ram janmabhoomi complex in Ayodhya, the happenings in Kashmir and the price rise issue", BJP Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu told at the airport here.

Naidu, on a transit visit here enroute to Delhi, was responding to a question on Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee expressing hope that the parliamentary proceedings would be conducted in a peaceful and undisturbed manner.

On the price rise issue in particular, "we will certainly confront the government". Various issues, especially the price rise, would be discussed at the BJP parliamentary party meeting and with the other NDA parnters, he said.

On Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's remarks on British rule, he said the "people of the country are really shocked. What prompted the Prime Minister to say this?"

Already the BJP had demanded an apology from the Prime Minister on the matter and wanted to know whether Congress President Sonia Gandhi approved of his remarks.

On disinvestment of public sector undertaking, Naidu said BJP was not against disinvestment and only wanted it to be done on a case-by-case basis.