Congress not interested in functioning of parliament: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday accused the Congress of not being interested in restoring normal functioning of parliament and said the government had not responded to opposition's concern over the appointment of Lokayukta in Gujarat without the consultation of the state government.

"We have been raising the issue in parliament. There is no statement from the government. Congress is not willing that the house runs," BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain said here.

He said senior party leader L.K. Advani had conveyed the party's concerns on the appointment of Lokayukta to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee during their meeting Tuesday. 

Gujarat Governor Kamala Beniwal had appointed Justice R.A. Mehta (retd) as Lokayukta without consulting the Narendra Modi government, triggering protests from the BJP which rules the state.

Hussain said Advani told Mukherjee that if appointments were made without consulting state governments, it will affect centre-state relations. He went on to say that the appointment of Lokayukya was a conspiracy by the Congress to "defame the Gujarat government".

Asked about the stance of the government that the matter of Lokayukta appointment was sub judice, Hussain said a statement had not been made in the house.

"We are waiting for a statement from the government...the Congress is in the dock. It is ignoring the voice of opposition," Hussain said.

He said the BJP will not sit quiet on the issue and agitate on the streets.