BJP today pointed to the absence of Finance Minister P Chidambaram in the Rajya Sabha where the union budget was slated to be taken up and said his decision to rush to Tamil Nadu to placate UPA ally DMK shows the "utter anarchy" in the ruling coalition.
"Chidambaram, who was supposed to reply on the budget discussion today, took an unusual step by being absent from the Rajya Sabha when it was to be debated. This shows the utter anarchy in UPA and it appears that the countdown to this government has begun," Deputy Leader of BJP in the Upper House Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters.
Chidambaram, along with union minister A K Antony and Ghulam Nabi Azad, flew to Chennai to meet DMK Chief M Karunanidhi to discuss his grievances over the plight of Tamilians in Sri Lanka. The UPA ally wants India to vote against Sri Lanka in the UN on the "violation" of human rights of Tamils in that country.
Prasad said Chidamabaram's absence shows there are growing differences in UPA and Congress is busy responding to the concerns of the coalition government.
Asked about BJP's stand on which way India should vote at the UN, Prasad said it is for the government to first make its stand clear. He also said the government should consult other parties as well.
"The issue of Tamils in Sri Lanka is a national issue and does not involve only the Tamil Nadu government. The safety and security of Tamilians living in Sri Lanka should be ensured and their human rights properly respected. They are citizens of Sri Lanka," Prasad said.
