After targetting the United Progressive Alliance government over the 'tainted' ministers issue, the Bharatiya Janata Party today decided to corner the Congress-led ruling coalition over the alleged 'involvement' of its leaders in the Telgi scam and the 'communistisation' (the overt influence of Communists) of the National Council of Educational Research and Training textbooks.

The BJP parliamentary party meeting, chaired by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, also decided to put the
government on the mat for its 'anti-people, anti-labour and anti-farmer' Budget and Tourism Minister Renuka Chowdhary's reported recommendation for the purchase of a Russian gun.

Vajpayee told the meeting attended by party president M Venkaiah Naidu and Leader of Opposition L K Advani that the Budget gave an opportunity to the Opposition to analyse the government's policies and highlight its 'weaknesses', BJP parliamentary party spokesman V K Malhotra told reporters after the hour-long meeting.

The former prime minister also asked his party's members of Parliament to come prepared to effectively put across their views, he said.

The meeting observed that the 'revelations' in the Telgi scam had pointed to the 'involvement of Congress leaders from the top to bottom, including ministers', Malhotra said, but he did not name anybody.

He said the party has decided to highlight the issue in both Houses of Parliament and across the country.

The main opposition party also decided to rake up the issue of 'communistisation' of NCERT textbooks 'under the
influence of Left parties' and the 'increased' dangers posed to internal security.

Taking note of the reported letter from Tourism Minister Renuka Chowdhury to Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee recommending the purchase of a Russian gun, the BJP leaders felt she was 'acting as an agent of arms dealers despite being a minister', Malhotra said.

The meeting also decided to raise the matter in Parliament.
    

Further, the BJP parliamentary party expressed concern over the Punjab assembly passing a bill terminating all agreements on water-sharing with neighbouring states after members from Haryana and Rajasthan raised the matter at the meeting, he said.

The meeting felt while there could be disagreements over various issues, a 'unilateral' decision on such matters was
'not appropriate'.

He said the meeting felt the Supreme Court's verdict should be abided by and all disputes resolved by involving all
parties concerned.

Asking the Central government to make its stand clear on the issue, Malhotra said the BJP will raise the issue in
Parliament.

On the raising of foreign direct investment cap in the civil aviation, telecom and insurance sectors, Malhotra said the BJP will firm up its view after talking to its partners in the National Democratic Alliance.

Asked about allegations that NDA convenor George Fernandes had 'links' with Abdul Kareem Telgi, the BJP leader said the former defence minister had already clarified that the photograph showing him sharing a dais with the scamster was taken at an official function.