New Delhi, Feb 23 (IANS): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday hit out at Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi for taking leave when parliament is in session, saying he is "holidaying" while the budget session is on.

Asked about the sabbatical taken by the Congress leader, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy said: "This only shows the seriousness of the Congress party. He is holidaying while budget session is on."

BJP MP Anurag Thakur said it was for the Gandhi scion to decide what is his priority.

"It is for him to decide what is the priority. They have been missing and that is why people have thrown them out," Thakur told reporters.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Praful Patel meanwhile refused to directly comment on Rahul Gandhi's absence from parliament.

"I don't want to comment on whether Rahul Gandhi should be on leave or not. But the fact is we as parliamentarians have a duty to be present in the House. No matter if it is land acquisition or any other bill, it is our duty to be present to debate and discuss," he said.

Rahul Gandhi took "leave of absence" ahead of the crucial budget session to reflect on a series of electoral defeats and deliberate on the future course of the 130-year-old party.