BJP policies inconsistent: Sonia
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Dec 21 — The Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, today sought to draw a distinction between her party and the BJP accusing the latter of inconsistency while in the opposition and now.

Addressing the customary general body meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) here today, she said: “We do not take one stand when in opposition and a contrary one when in the government”.

Referring to the recently passed Bill on the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA), she said it was a good example of the Congress consistency and inconsistency of the NDA.

“When in opposition, the BJP in particular, bitterly and aggressively attacked the Bill. Now that it is on the treasury benches, it has made a total turnabout”, she said adding that the Congress had always been devising and espousing economic reforms which were in the larger interest of the people.

The BJP, she said, had abandoned its own economic policies and adopted those of the Congress.

She said the NDA’s draft legislation on insurance did not adequately reflect the Congress concerns with regard to infrastructure, social structure and poverty eradication programmes and gave credit to the party for pushing through the amendments.

The Congress chief also sounded a note of warning to the party MPs to continue to read the future Bills carefully.

Mrs Gandhi also touched upon contentious issues like the WTO-related legislation, the Women’s Reservation Bill, matters pertaining to Ayodhya and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

On the Women’s Reservation Bill, she said that it must be introduced, discussed and passed.

She said the government proposed to introduce the Bill on virtually the last day of the session and charged that the idea was to postpone the debate and discussion and termed it as a ruse to buy time to cover up the “widening cracks in the ruling coalition on this critical issue”.

On Ayodhya, the Leader of the Opposition complimented the party for securing the Prime Minister’s reiteration of the NDA’s intention of keeping such issues on the backburner.

She also informed the CPP regarding the meeting a party delegation had with the Prime Minister on the CTBT. She said since the issue was complex it was not possible for the Congress to give any response without reflecting on the issues raised and consultation within the party.