Trinamool Cong to bring no-confidence motion against UPA govt

Kolkata, Nov 17: Attacking the UPA government on FDI in retail and corruption issues, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today said her party would bring a no-confidence motion against it in the winter session of Parliament and sought the support of UPA allies and Left parties and expressed readinesss to talk to BJP.

"Our party's parliamentary leader in Parliament Sudip Bandyopadhay will move the no-confidence on the first day of the winter session," Banerjee, the West Bengal Chief minister, told a press conference here after a meeting with party MPs.

Stating that instead of moving notices under Rule 184, which entails voting or 193 which does not, she said "we have decided to bring the no-confidence motion to seek the ouster of the government and formation of a new government through fresh election.

"I request other political parties support our motion," she said. Asked whether TMC would seek the support of former ally BJP, Banerjee said, "if anybody wants to talk to us we are ready. Political parties can talk to political parties. No religious issue is involved in it. This is not a religious issue or alliance issue."

"This is an issue which involves corruption. Minority and majority we are all together because this is the issue which we have to combat. When Congress talks to BJP, then it is touchable. But when other political parties want to talk to BJP on political grounds it is untouchable," she said.

"This government which is mired in corruption of thousands of crores of rupees and sold out the country and has taken anti-people decisions one after another arbitrarily like FDI in multi-brand retail, FDI in pension and imposed a cap on subsidised LPG cylinders, must go," Banerjee, whose party has 19 MPS in the Lok Sabha, said.

"We are ready to talk to the CPI-M and other Left parties on the issue, if they want. Our parliamentary party leader Sudip Bandyopadhay in that case will speak with them," Banerjee said. She said that DMK, the UPA’s second largest ally after the departure of the Trinamool Congress had decided to stay away from the ministry and had reservations against the FDI in retail.

She also said that there was nothing wrong in the Samajwadi Party and BSP in attending a dinner hosted by the Prime Minister ahead of the session. "It is a courtesy. There is nothing wrong. But I also appeal to the SP and BSP to support our motion," she said describing the decision taken by her party in quitting the UPA government and bringing a no confidence motion against it as bold.

On BSP and SP which have a sizable number of MPs, she said "They may be (outside) allies. It does not mean they will accept when the interests of the common people are in peril because of the anti-people decisions of this government." Banerjee who has earlier said that the 'CBI stick' was being used for political purposes to control political parties and state governments said "There is no use threatening us with CBI."

Seeking support of regional parties, Banerjee said "We have many regional friends and they also have a role." She said former UPA ally Babulal Marandi's Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (P), which has two Lok Sabha MPs was with the TMC.

"This government is against the 'aam admi'. We will bring the no-confidence motion which will see which parties stand where so far as the anti-people decisions of this government is concerned," Banerjee said, adding that it would require the support of 50 Lok Sabha members to get the motion admitted.

Stating that she had heard that Left parties were planning to move a resolution on FDI in multi-brand retail, she said "I request my Leftist friends not to bring resolution if they are interested to safeguard the interest of the common people and want this government to go."

"Let them support our motion. And, if necessary they themselves can bring a no-confidence motion which we will support. But there should not be any backdoor deal to save the government," Banerjee said.

Asked whether TMC has established contacts with other parties before deciding to bring no-confidence motion, she said "We are doing this through the local and national media. Referring to the controversial land acquisition bill, she said "No opinion was sought on the land bill."

PTI