Monday, December 5 2005 17:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Taking strong exception to the whisking away of Indian Ambassador to Croatia Aniel Matherani on his arrival at Delhi airport, NDA today decided to question the government in the Parliament on his where about and to insist on the resignation of Natwar Singh from the Union Cabinet and Sonia Gandhi as Chairperson of the National Advisory Council over the Iraqi oil deals.

At a meeting chaired by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the BJP-led opposition alliance also decided not to allow any business in Parliament till Natwar Singh steps down and government gives an explanation on Matherani's interrogation. "We have given a notice for suspension of question hour.

We would be asking the government about Matherani's whereabouts. After whisking him away from the airport, he is being tortured to give a statement in favour of the Congress. How can they interrogate an Ambassador like this," BJP Parliamentary Party Spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra told reporters after a 30-minute-long meeting.

Asked whether both houses of Parliament would function smoothly, he said, "It doesn't look so. The country is being sold and criminals are being protected, we can't be mute spectators," he said.

Malhotra said the NDA leaders would insist on the resignation of both Natwar and Sonia Gandhi. "The situation has worsened further. Now contradictory statements are coming from Natwar Singh's son Jagat Singh and Randeep Singh Surjewala, former youth Congress President.

"The Prime Minister also goes abroad and speaks against BJP, the country's major opposition party, this is highly objectionable," the BJP leader said.

The meeting was attended among others by leader of opposition L K Advani, senior BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Ananth Kumar besides JD-U leaders Digvijay Singh and Prabhunath Singh and leaders of other alliance partners.

Briefing the media BJD leader B K Tripathi said the NDA leaders also decided to vociferously protest against the government's reported move to shift the National Institute of Science from Bhubaneswar to West Bengal.