New Delhi/Kolkata, Nov 22 (IBNS): West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee on Thursday lashed out at the opposition parties for not backing her no-confidence motion against the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail.
As the Winter Session of the Parliament started on a stormy note, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Thursday rejected the no-confidence motion moved by TMC against the UPA government on the decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail.
Mamata said the 'saviours of the government are exposed'.
"Today, you have seen that according to our commitment to the people of the country, AITMC Members of the Parliament have moved the No-Confidence Motion against the UPA Government on the opening day of the Session. We knew our limitation was the strength, and ultimately, that is why the Motion was rejected," Mamata posted on her Facebook page.
Slamming opposition parties including Left and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), she said: "But we thought that other Members who are so vociferous against the FDI in Retail and other sectors, and various other anti-people decisions of the UPA Government, would join the No-Trust Move against the Government. Unfortunately, they did not come forward for the cause of the people, citing various excuses."
"Though the Motion was rejected on the floor of the House due to numbers, but the ‘No Trust’ against the UPA Government is not rejected by the people of the country. Now, you see the saviours of the Government are exposed," the Chief Minister said.
The TMC moved the motion against the government despite having only 19 MPs. It was rejected as the TMC could not gain the support of 50 MPs.
The TMC chief had been reaching out to several parties, including arch-rivals Left, for supporting her no-confidence motion.
However, no party was explicit in its support for Mamata and did not promise to back the TMC on the issue.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, however, demanded for voting on FDI issue under Rule 184 of the Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha. Rule 184 ensures a vote after debate.
"We should be given an opportunity to express our views under rule 184. Under rule 184 there should be a discussion on FDI in the parliament," Swaraj said.
Pertinently, the government is opposed to it.
Meanwhile, both Houses of the Parliament were adjourned for the day amid ruckus over FDI and other issues on Thursday.
