Snoopgate row: Gloves are off as BJP says it will reciprocate

New Delhi: As the war of words on Snoopgate inquiry intensified, BJP on Saturday accused Congress of laying down an "agenda of confrontation" and suggested that it will be "reciprocated" once the saffron party comes to power.

Attacking the Congress-led UP government, BJP leader Arun Jaitley said the "Shah Alams" are failing to realise the limits of their jurisdiction, a reference to the Mughal king who presided over a declining empire.

"If the Congressmen on the eve of their departure are laying down an agenda of confrontation with the current opposition, they are only laying down an agenda for the future.

"Nobody will accept the argument that what the Congressmen are doing is justice and when the same is reciprocated it is vindictiveness," he said. Asking Congress to reconcile to a spell in opposition, Jaitley said the idea of getting out of power is making it "bitter and desperate".

"The Gandhis believe that they were God's gifts to India and were meant only to rule. They frown at the very idea of a tea vendor defeating them at the polls and ruling India.

Others believe that till 16th May they have unlimited power," he said. It was alleged that illegal surveillance was carried out on a young woman in Gujarat in 2009 at the behest of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi.

Yesterday, the government had said that the judge to head the inquiry, announced by it in December last year into the issue, would be appointed before the Lok Sabha poll process comes to an end on May 16, drawing a sharp reaction from BJP.

Needling the ruling party, the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha wondered why Congress is "scared" of sitting in the opposition when it is clear that the popular mandate is not with it and it is likely to be a "two-digit" party.

"It cannot wildly dream of being a part of the ruling combination.... All political parties need to be well trained to sit in opposition," Jaitley wrote on his blog.

Taking potshots at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Jaitley said the PM has become cynical and "complains" to people that he has been unfairly targeted.

He even advised Congress on the role of opposition and said it has a powerful role in safeguarding public interest. "They will do well if they reconcile to their seats in the opposition. It does a lot of good to you when you introspect and plan for the future," he said.