Congress using National Herald case to harm national interest: BJP

The party added that the Congress is holding the country's development "hostage" to its "selfish" political goal

With Parliament virtually paralysed due to disruption by Congress, BJP today attacked it saying it was using the National Herald case to "harm" national interest and holding the country's development "hostage" to its "selfish" political goal.

The BJP Parliamentary Party voiced concern over the way the main opposition party was creating "obstruction" in the path of development and said it would be "suicidal" for it.

Briefing the media after the meeting, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said BJP has issued a whip, asking its members in both the Houses to be present for the remainder of the Winter session during which the government hopes to push through a host of Bills even as prospect for it appears dim.

Like last year, the government and party will also celebrate former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's birth day on December 25 as 'good governance day' during which a host of events will be held, he said.

The parliamentary party was told that a number of programmes aimed at empowering youth, including skill development projects in every Lok Sabha constituency, will be launched on January 12, the birth anniversary of spiritual guru Vivekananda.

Banks and public sector units will pitch in and the aim behind it will be to give a boost to job growth, Naqvi said.

The party MPs also decided to contribute Rs 10,000 each for Chennai flood relief, he said.

"The parliamentary party expressed its concern over the negative politics of Congress and its attempt to obstruct the country's development. It is doing so for its own narrow and selfish political interest and it can be suicidal for Congress.

"The National Herald case is being used to harm national interest. Congress should see to it that the case does not overshadow national interest," Naqvi said.