New Delhi, Aug. 6: The ruling UPA almost felt embarrassed in the Lok Sabha today as disgraced former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda showered praises on it while criticising the BJP and the NDA.

Koda’s kind gesture left Congress MPs and ministers sheepish as the BJP vociferously protested against his diatribe that he unleashed while the Lok Sabha was debating the demand for additional grants for Jharkhand — now under President’s Rule — and ultimately approved the extra expenditure of Rs 1,242.71 crore for the current financial year.

Koda asked the BJP how could he become a “plunderer” by getting into the UPA when he was not one in the NDA.

“This Independent member was good when supporting the NDA government. But the moment I spoke against you I became a plunderer,” said Koda, now an MP from Singhbhum, but had become chief minister when he was an Independent MLA.

Koda, who is under arrest in corruption cases, has been attending Parliament with court’s permission. Today, he chose not to criticise the Congress or the UPA, but attacked the BJP on several counts.

He said under the BJP’s regime, Naxalism had increased and there were attempts to undermine the state’s tribal culture. He also claimed the BJP had tried to remove some areas of Jharkhand from the 5th Schedule of the Constitution that provides protection to adivasis living in scheduled areas.

“I was the chief minister and I brought the matter to the notice of the UPA at the Centre and foiled the attempts,” Koda said, even as he credited the UPA for protecting and strengthening the traditional tribal systems of the state.

Replying to the debate, minister of state for finance Namo Narain Meena said the additional burden of expenditure would be met through better tax enforcement.

Meena said panchayat elections, not held in the state for the last 30 years, were expected to be held by year-end. The BJP had criticised the Centre for destabilising the state several times, a factor that set it back in the development process.

Congress member Adhir Choudhury rejected the BJP’s charge, pointing out that it was the BJP which was in power during most of the time in the 10-year-old state.

Jharkhand was placed under President’s rule after NDA withdrew support from the JMM after its chief Shibu Soren voted in favour of UPA in the cut motion in Lok Sabha during the budget session.