All India Trinamool Congress chairperson and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Saturday that her party would bring a no-confidence motion against the United Progressive Alliance government on the first day of the winter session of Parliament. She sought the support of all parties, including her arch-rival, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), to help usher in a new government in India.
Addressing the media after a meeting of the TMC MPs here, she said all parties opposing the Centre’s ‘anti-people’ moves should support the motion. She said she was ready to talk to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the smaller regional parties on this.
“This government has no moral right to continue even for a day,” she said. A minority government was taking major decisions, unilaterally and forcefully. “This is unconstitutional, undemocratic and unethical.”
“I appeal to all parties including the CPI (M), all those who are pro-people, to support the motion,” she said, adding that while her party’s leader in the Lok Sabha, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, will move the motion, senior party MP Sougata Roy will initiate the discussion.
Stating that certain parties wanted to bring in a motion under rules 193 and 184 of the ‘Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha,’ Ms. Banerjee said such motions would not have any impact.
She noted that the Centre did not relent even after her party withdrew its ministers in protest against the fuel price hike and the decisions on FDI in retail and pension reforms, and accused the Congress of imposing a one-party rule. “We are in the majority here… but they are not… they have sold out the country.”
She urged the CPI (M) to support her party’s motion, saying Mr. Bandyopadhyay would speak to them if they were willing. “I urge the CPI (M) to support our motion rather than move a resolution.”
Referring to ‘snide’ comments being made against her party vis-à-vis the BJP, Ms. Banerjee said that while no talks had yet been held by her with the BJP, it was queer that the BJP was described as untouchable.
