BJP adopting double standards on China: Cong

New Delhi, Nov 24: The Congress today accused the Opposition BJP of adopting a discriminatory approach when in power and out of it regarding China's statements on Arunachal Pradesh and termed it yet another example of its double talk and double standards.

Stating that ''political gimmickry'' was a permanent feature of the BJP, Congress Spokesman Abhishek Singhvi referred to the statement made by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in which he had pointed out that in 2003 when the BJP was in power a similar statement staking claim to Arunachal Pradesh was made by China, but the saffron party had then not even considered it necessary to move a similar resolution.

Mr Singhvi pointed out that within hours of the Chinese Ambassador making a statement on Arunachal Pradesh, Mr Mukherjee had expressed the sense of nation, saying Arunachal Pradesh was an integral part of India.

''They(BJP)did not deem it fit to do so when an identical statement was made by China then,'' he added.

Accusing the BJP of squandaring the national exchequer's money and time to divert Parliament's attention to a non-issue, Mr Singhvi said, '' We do not want to get a certificate of patriotism from the BJP which had not even participated in the greatest freedom struggle of India.'' Terming the BJP's approach on Arunachal Pradesh ''irresponsible'', he alleged that the party was out to create issues to disrupt Parliament by adopting diversionary tactics without any accountability.

UNI