New Delhi, March 3 (IANS): "Silence of Indian Parliament doesn't augur well and is a poor reflection of the largest democracy in the world," said senior Congress leader Anand Sharma here on Tuesday after the government refused to debate Delhi riots.

The government has asserted that it will discuss the issue on March 11 after Holi.

The opposition leaders also met Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Vankaiaiah Naidu and urged him to allow the discussion. "We had meetings with opposition leaders and the Chairman. We hope the government will listen to the demand without any delay," said Sharma.

"There is a need not only to discuss, but also fix the accountability. That's the parliamentary democracy all about," he said.

Remarking that the government should give up obduracy and rigidity and respect Parliament, he said, "It's the time Parliament condemned Delhi riots. The message from Parliament will be in the country's interest," Sharma said.

The Congress also slammed the Prime Minister for not taking the counsel of wisdom from former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the right spirit. Singh had said slogans should not be made to divide the people.