Wednesday, December 7 2005 15:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Buoyed by Union Minister Natwar Singh's decision to resign on the Volcker controversy, an aggressive Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Opposition today (Dec 7, 2005) targeted Sonia Gandhi in Parliament demanding her resignation as Chairperson of the National Advisory Council, saying 'double standards' would not be accepted.

Though business was back to normal after four days of disruption on the issue in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, main Opposition BJP staged a walkout in both Houses expressing dissatisfaction over Government's response.

In the Lok Sabha, Leader of the Opposition L K Advani, who led the walkout, contended that Gandhi should quit as NAC Chairperson saying, "Double standards will not do."

He said the yardstick for Singh should be applied to her as the Congress was also named as a non-contractual beneficiary along with the former External Affairs Minister in the Volcker findings.

"Our leader (Gandhi) is not on a transfer order from outside," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said in a spirited reply telling Advani that he might be a 'victim of outside dictates' but not the Congress President.

Dasmunsi said the Opposition demand emanated from its 'frustration' as the BJP has been attacking Gandhi from the day she took over as Congress chief.

Maintaining that Government was determined to get to the truth, he said it would await report of the Justice R S Pathank Inquiry Authority.

"We have made it abundantly clear that our Government shall deal with the issue firmly," he said.

In Rajya Sabha, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, responding to the remarks of Leader of the Opposition Jaswant Singh, charged the opposition with making an 'illogical and irrational' demand as nowhere the Volcker Committee had named Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

He made it clear that Natwar Singh had resigned not because he was found guilty but to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament which was disrupted due to the irrational demand of the opposition.

"Government has never stated that Natwar Singh is guilty. What Natwar Singh has done (decision to resign) is fully justified. It is not correct to say that accusation against him has been established," he said.