Cong deplores BJP's disruption of Parliament on Soren issue

New Delhi, Nov 9 (UNI) The Congress today deplored the attitude of the BJP in disrupting the proceedings of both the Houses of Parliament instead of participating in discussions and appealed to the party to utilise the limited available time in the short Winter Session of Parliament for fruitful discussion.

Congress Spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said the Congress was ''pained'' at the repeated appeals to the Opposition, to allow Parliament to function, falling on deaf ears. ''Half of the Rajya Sabha's working time was lost without any issue discussed. Pre-lunch sessions in both the Houses were also disrupted by the Opposition,'' he pointed out, referring to the obstruction caused by the Opposition demanding the Prime Minister to make a statement on Shibu Soren.

Charging the Opposition of having lost its faith in the democracy, Mr Singhi told reporters that within 24 hours of Mr Soren's conviction by the court, the Prime Minister has asked for his resignation and forwarded it to the President. ''Can this be the ground for disrupting the proceedings,'' he asked, adding the PM ''owes no explanation to anybody.'' To insist on the Prime Minister's presence was against all cannons of democracy, he said, adding it can not be a ground for obstruction.

Replying to questions, Mr Singhvi maintained that the word ''tainted'' was subjective and could be applied in case of all political parties. ''Mr Soren was not a convict when he became a Minister,'' he explained and added mere framing of charge does not make one ''tainted.'' UNI YS Vd GC1840