Home > News > PTI
Rail mishap: NDA will listen to Lalu's statement
December 16, 2004 11:50 IST
Last Updated: December 16, 2004 12:39 IST
Setting aside its boycott of Lalu Prasad Yadav, National Democratic Alliance leaders on Thursday decided to listen to the railway minister's statement on the train accident in Punjab that claimed 38 lives.
A meeting of NDA leaders at Leader of Opposition L K Advani's chamber in Parliament House, just before the house assembled, also decided to raise the issue of 'absence of legislative business' in the ongoing session of Parliament.
"The rail accident is a very sensitive matter and hence we decided to listen to the railway minister's statement," BJP Parliamentary Party spokesman V K Malhotra told PTI.
Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had on Wednesday insisted on Prasad making a statement on the rail accident in the house following which the Lok Sabha was adjourned.
The National Democratic Alliance leaders also wants an explanation from the railway minister on his absence from Parliament on Wednesday.
He, however, said NDA has not changed its stand vis-a-vis boycott of Prasad and other 'tainted ministers'.
The 45-minute meeting, attended by NDA constituents, was called to decide whether to continue with the boycott or to listen to Prasad's statement in Parliament.