Government, BJP in war of words over disruption of Parliament

NEW DELHI: The government and BJP were today engaged in a war of words over disruption of Parliament for the past one week.

Hitting out at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his remarks that the world is laughing at India due to frequent disruptions of Parliamentary proceedings, BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said the government is equally responsible for the smooth functioning of the House.

"We have become a laughing stock not because of the Opposition, but because of the government," he told reporters outside Parliament House.

He said the Prime Minister should have personally convened an all-party meet to end the deadlock. "When was the last time the Prime Minister sat down with parties to discuss deadlock," he asked.

Minister of state for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla said blaming the Prime Minister, who was elected in 2009 defeating the " iron man" ( L K Advani) projected by Sinha, would not help.

"His (Sinha's) observation can't be seen as an expression of the voice of the people," Shukla said.