KolkataNew Delhi: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee Saturday announced that her party will bring a no-confidence motion against the UPA government in the winter session of parliament. The Congress downplayed the move, saying the government has majority in the Lok Sabha.
Banerjee asked all parties including BJP and her bete noire CPI-M to support her party's the move. The Congress downplayed the move, saying the government had majority in the Lok Sabha.
Her Trinamool Congress has been a part of Congress-led UPA alliance at the Centre till recently.
"It is very important for the sake of the country that this government falls. And so we have taken a unanimous decision to bring a non-confidence motion against the minority UPA government," Banerjee, the West Bengal chief minister, said after meeting her party parliamentarians in Kolkota.
The winter session of parliament begins Nov 22.
"This government should not be in office for a day now. 'Deshe loot cholche, loot. Jhoot cholche, jhoot.' (Loot is going on in the country. It's only lies, and lies). It is an anti-people and minority government," Banerjee told reporters at state secretariat Writers' buildings.
"This government has robbed people of their sleep. They have no moral right to continue." She also said her party was open to talks with other parties including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over bringing the resolution.
"This is a bigger issue involving the country and is not a religious issue. For the interest of the people, we must take a stand. I urge all political parties to take a stand against this government," she said.
"We are open for talks with any party -- whether the BJP or the Left. This is not a religious or communal issue. For the sake of the people of this country, we are willing to talk to any political party," said Banerjee.
On the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) submitting notices in both houses of parliament seeking discussions on the government's decision to allow foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail, Banerjee said: "I tell my friends in the CPI-M: You are giving a window to the government by asking for a discussions under rule 184 and 193. This will not serve any purpose."
Banerjee said Trinamool parliamentary party leader Sudip Bandopadhyay would move the no-confidence motion on the opening day of the session.
After the UPA government initiated economic reforms including allowing foreign equity in multi-brand retail, Trinamool Congress -- then the second-largest constituent of the ruling coalition government at the centre -- pulled out in September.
Reacting to Trinamool Congress' threat, Congress spokesperson Raashid Alvi said his party was ready to face a no confidence motion. "We have majority," Alvi said, adding that the next general elections will be held on schedule in 2014.
However, he targeted Trinamool Congress saying the party will not be able to bring a no-confidence motion without the support of "communal forces", a veiled reference to BJP.
"If she wants to bring in a no confidence motion, we have nothing to say. But at least 50 MPs are required to bring such a motion. It is a different matter if somebody brings it by joining hands with communal forces," Alvi said.
IANS
First Published: Saturday, November 17, 2012, 17:34