BJP hints at Bofors-like protest

NEW DELHI: Mounting pressure on the government, BJP prime ministerial candidate L K Advani on Wednesday hinted at en masse resignation of the entire opposition in Parliament to register its protest over the "tainted" victory in the trust vote, a move it said could be similar to the one at the height of Bofors' controversy.

"When I had referred to Bofors, I had that particular incident in mind. It is a suggestion for action...Only if the entire opposition decides or only if the entire party decides," Advani said addressing a joint press conference along with party chief Rajnath Singh.

The entire opposition had resigned in 1989 over the Bofors issue, a few months before the Lok Sabha elections.

The press meet, held a day after the alleged "cash-for-votes scandal" broke out in the Lok Sabha shortly before the confidence motion, saw Advani describing the "scam" as "even more shocking" than Bofors.

To another question whether the party would move a no-confidence motion against the government in view of its 'fragile' mandate, Advani avoided a direct reply but made it clear that "it will not be easy for the government to continue smoothly...". Besides, he said, elections are not far away.

Advani announced that the party would be launching a nation-wide campaign to make people aware of the "illegitimacy" of the UPA government and its "unsuitability" to continue in office after exposure of the "cash-for-votes scandal".

The Leader of the Opposition said he was "saddened" by the fact that so many party MPs had violated discipline and there is a sense of outrage in the party. It was "prima facie only because of the lure of money", he added.