In escalation of confrontation, the NDA on Monday decided to target Home Minister P. Chidambaram by boycotting him and not allowing him to speak in Parliament, holding him also responsible for the 2G Scam.
In a sudden move, the BJP-led NDA demanded the resignation of Chidambaram, who was Finance Minister in UPA-I, and declared that they will boycott him till his resignation was accepted by the Prime Minister.
The NDA decision came on the eve of start of the Winter Session of Parliament at a meeting at senior BJP leader L. K. Advani's residence, which was attended by leaders of BJP and allies Sharad Yadav, Manohar Joshi, Anant Geete, Naresh Gujral and Shivanand Tiwari.
On the opening day on Tuesday, Advani will move an adjournment motion on the issue of black money in the Lok Sabha and the NDA has decided to support the Left motion on price rise.
"The then Finance Minister Chidambaram is equally responsible for the 2G Scam as the then Telecom Minister A. Raja is. The Prime Minister has taken Raja's resignation, but didn't seek Chidambaram's resignation.
"Till P. Chidambaram's resignation is accepted, we will boycott him in Parliament. We will not allow him to speak," said S. S. Ahluwalia, deputy leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha.
The NDA decision will be a repeat of what the Congress did to George Fernandes after his reinstatement as Defence Minister in the Vajpayee-government on the Tehelka arms expose.
At that time, the Congress members would walk out of the House whenever Fernandes would rise to speak.