Congress confident of winning trust vote : Moily

New Delhi, July 15 (UNI) Amid hectic political activity ahead of the July 22 vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha, the Congress today asserted that it had no fear about the survival of the government and that the BJP and the Left could together mobilise support of not more than 259 members in the Lower House with an effective strength of 542.

"We are in a win-win situation," AICC General Secretary in charge of media Veerappa Moily told mediapersons, in reply to a question on if the UPA had adequate numbers to continue in power.

"The BJP-led NDA and the Left parties can mobilise not more than 259 members. Even there may be defection which we will not engineer," he said, while indirectly indicating that the UPA government will have the support of more than 280 MPs for the trust motion.

Mr Moily said the Congress was well aware of the fact that the Left Parties would withdraw their support to the government one day or the other before the next Lok Sabha elections. "Therefore, we have been preparing for such a situation." Asked if the Congress was hopeful of meeting the demands of smaller parties to extend support to the government, Mr Moily said it was wrong to say that everything was for quid pro quo.

"It is wrong to create the impression that everything is available for a price. It is, in fact, demeaning the Parliament and the honourable members. Any insinuation on the integrity of the members of Parliament will reflect badly on the democratic institutions." In this context, he said smaller parties were, of course, important for the Congress. "Each one of them will have its concerns and identity in politics." When his attention was drawn to the CPI(M) criticism against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh brokering conciliation between the warring Ambani brothers, Mr Moily said : "As far as the Congress is concerned we have nothing to say." Asked if the Congress was in favour of imposition of windfall profit tax (wpt) on oil refineries, he said it was for the government to decide on issues relating to resources mobilisation.

"A suggestion in favour of imposition of WPT has come from Samajwadi Leader Amar Singh. It is for the government to look into it." On reports that the governance had taken a backseat with the Prime Minister Singh busy fighting for the survival of the government, Mr Moily said "We are comfortable and confident. There is no need for fighting for survival." UNI SH RL KN1603