We don't need a certificate from Cong, reacts BJP

Hitting back at the government for "lack of seriousness" and "cover up" on the coal blocks issue, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday said it did not need a certificate of responsibility from Congress party.

It also reminded Congress of accountability towards Parliament and said it wants to hold a debate on the coal issue only for the sake of it.

Responding to Congress President Sonia Gandhi's attack against it for not allowing Parliament to function, the opposition party said, "We don't need a certificate of responsibility from Congress, we need conduct of accountability from them."

After the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting in New Delhi which was attended among others by L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, BJP's Chief Spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "The government only talks of debate inside Parliament but not of accountability."

He said, "The government has shown no seriousness on this issue and wants a debate for the sake of one".

"We admit that Parliament is a place for debate, it is also a place for accountability. The government only talks of debate inside Parliament. But when the question comes of determination of accountability, which is equally integral part of Parliament, the government absolutely tries to cover it up," Prasad said.

The BJP leader said the party sticks to its stand of seeking the prime minister's resignation and claimed that the "unconventional" methods of stalling Parliament adopted by it has benefited the country.

"In today's Parliamentary Party we resolved that if the prime minister is serious about owning up the accountability as the coal minister when the wrongdoings have taken place, he must take it to the logical conclusion, own up the responsibility and resign," he said.

Prasad said, "We again reiterate that Parliament is a place for debate but also of accountability. And if we want to expose the corruption of Congress-led UPA government then it is our responsibility towards the nation as the opposition, which we will continue to do."