Congress unhappy over NDA attitude?

The Congress' move to keep away from the oath-taking ceremony of the new council of ministers in New Delhi on Sunday was apparently to send a signal to the Narendra Modi government that the Opposition party was not happy over its attitude.

A senior leader, who declined to be identified, on Monday said despite the Congress being a constructive Opposition, the government had been less than reciprocative.

He said the absence of party president Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh should be seen in the context of this behaviour of the government.

The Congress has been denied Leader of the Opposition status in the Lok Sabha on the contention that its 44 ministers were less than a tenth of the House.

The remarks of the Congress leader are significant in view of the fact that the Winter Session of Parliament is less than a fortnight away and the government has spoken of a heavy legislative agenda, including some key measures.