We don't need a certificate of responsibility from Cong: BJP

Hitting back at Congress President Sonia Gandhi on the issue of Parliament disruption, BJP today said it did not need a certificate of responsibility from Congress party.

It also reminded Congress of accountability towards Parliament and said it wants to hold a debate on the coal blocks allocation issue only for the sake of it. Responding to Gandhi's attack against it for not allowing Parliament to function, the opposition party said, "We don't need a certificate of responsibility from Congress, we need conduct of accountability from them."

After the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting here which was attended among others by L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, BJP's Chief Spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "The government only talks of debate inside Parliament but not of accountability."

He said, "The government has shown no seriousness on this issue and wants a debate for the sake of one".

"We admit that Parliament is a place for debate, it is also a place for accountability. The government only talks of debate inside Parliament. But when the question comes of determination of accountability, which is equally integral part of Parliament, the government absolutely tries to cover it up," Prasad said.

The BJP leader said the party sticks to its stand of seeking the Prime Minister's resignation and claimed that the "unconventional" methods of stalling Parliament adopted by it has benefited the country.

"In today's Parliamentary Party we resolved that if the Prime Minister is serious about owning up the accountability as the Coal Minister when the wrongdoings have taken place, he must take it to the logical conclusion, own up the responsibility and resign," he said.

Prasad said, "We again reiterate that Parliament is a place for debate but also of accountability. And if we want to expose the corruption of Congress-led UPA government then it is our responsbility towards the nation as the opposition, which we will continue to do." 

Responding to the Prime Minister's statement on CAG report on coal blocks issue, Prasad said it "conceals" the real issue of delay in putting in place the policy of competitive bidding.

"The statement of the Prime Minister in a way is designed to conceal the real delay committed in bringing into force the competitive bidding process with a view to favouring a chosen few who were given the allocations," he said.

Reacting to Gandhi's attack, the BJP leader said, "We will not use harsh words but we will continue to seek accountability".

The opposition party also reminded Gandhi that her party did not allow Parliament to function for one month on the Tehelka issue and that it boycotted George Fernandes for two years on the Coffingate issue even though CBI during UPA regime did not find any evidence in the allegations against him.

Prasad also recalled that Gandhi had used comments like "maut ka saudagar" against a BJP leader and said, "Were Sonia Gandhi's comments on Advani's statement in Parliament very parliamentary?"

He said the opposition party will continue to seek accountability from the government and will stick to its stand of seeking the Prime Minister's resignation.

"Whenever we seek accountability, the country benefits," he said, adding, "The unconventional methods which we have adopted has benefited the country".

Prasad said the BJP has sought cancellation of the 142 coal blocks, "but the government has shown no seriousness on this issue and wants a debate for the sake of one".

He said if the Coal blocks are auctioned it will give huge revenue to the government.

Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party, a combative Congress President had today taken the battle to the opposition camp and accused BJP of making "political bread and butter" by holding Parliament to "ransom by blackmail".