Mamta’s TMC distanced itself from Congress’ agenda on Adani issue
NEW DELHI: Mamata Banerjee has given a big blow to Congress, which is vocal on the issue of industrialist Gautam Adani in Parliament.
Mamata Banerjee’s party Trinamool Congress has distanced itself from the Congress meeting called on floor management. It is being said that Mamata’s party is angry due to the ruckus being created over one issue.
TMC had recently requested Congress to change its stand. The party said that issues of public interest should be raised in Parliament. However, this is not the first time that Mamata’s party has given a blow to Congress. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had called a meeting of India Block leaders to discuss the strategy of protest in Parliament in the case of Adani.
Trinamool Congress has given a clear message by distancing itself from this meeting. According to information received from TMC sources, it wants to raise six major issues in Parliament, which include inflation, unemployment, lack of funds and unrest in Manipur. On the other hand, Congress wants to emphasize on the Adani issue. Due to this deadlock, TMC did not attend the meeting. TMC did not partner with Congress during the Lok Sabha elections. Therefore, the party leaders believe that they are not forced to support India Block on an issue which is not on top of their agenda.
Congress is demanding that all work in the House be suspended to discuss the US Justice Department’s indictment against the directors of Adani Green. On Monday morning, Congress MP Manikam Tagore gave notice of adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha to discuss the Adani issue. At the same time, MPs of many parties including Congress have demanded discussion on issues like damage caused by cyclone Fangel, violence in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, targeting of ISKCON sadhus in Bangladesh and delay in paddy procurement in Punjab.
However, on the allegations leveled by US prosecutors, Adani Group has said that Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani and senior executive Vineet Jain are free from bribery charges. Gautam Adani has said that this is not the first time the group has faced this challenge. He stressed that “every attack makes us stronger”.
Giving a clear message that it is not with the main opposition party Congress in disrupting Parliament over the Adani indictment issue, the Trinamool Congress did not attend the India Block leaders’ meeting in Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s chamber today. Trinamool Congress sources said it wants to raise six key issues in Parliament, including price rise, unemployment, lack of funds and Manipur unrest. “But the Congress wants to highlight only the Adani issue. Therefore, the Trinamool did not attend the India floor leaders’ meeting today.”
The Trinamool source also said it is the only party in the India Block that is not an electoral partner of the Congress. “So there is a feeling in the party that we are not obliged to participate in the India Block when our top points are not on the agenda.” The Congress is demanding that all business in the House be suspended to discuss the US Justice Department’s indictment against the directors of Adani Green. This morning also, Congress MP Manickam Tagore gave an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha to discuss the Adani issue. However, MPs from several parties including the Congress have demanded discussion on several important issues such as the damage caused by cyclone Fengal, violence over the mosque survey in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, targeting of ISKCON monks in Bangladesh and delay in paddy procurement in Punjab.
Parliamentary proceedings have been disrupted for the last several days due to chaos and repeated adjournments. The session will end on December 20. Earlier, Trinamool general secretary and party’s number 2 leader Abhishek Banerjee had made it clear that the Trinamool would prioritise Bengal issues during the winter session. “Our stand is very clear. We will give priority to Bengal issues first. The Centre has stopped Bengal’s dues. We want a discussion in Parliament on these issues. Go and ask the Congress. I have said that we will give priority to Bengal issues. What is their stand?”
Earlier, senior Trinamool MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said that the party did not want Parliament to be disrupted. He said, “We want Parliament to function. We don’t want to disrupt the House on just one issue. We will hold this government accountable on many matters.” The Trinamool had earlier said it would raise the issue of ongoing unrest in Manipur during the winter session of Parliament and demand immediate action from the Centre to bring peace in the northeastern state.
