Govt's duty to invite everyone: Rijiju on rebel TMC MPs at all-party meeting
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday said rebel TMC MPs were invited to the all-party meeting held earlier in the day because it was
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday said rebel TMC MPs were invited to the all-party meeting held earlier in the day because it was the duty of the government to invite "everyone" to such sittings. The remark followed the high-voltage drama that unfolded at the huddle, which was convened by the government ahead of the Monsoon Session. The customary meeting witnessed a walkout from MPs belonging to the INDIA opposition bloc over the presence of rebel TMC parliamentarians and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's decision to allow them separate seats.
Read Full Story The Opposition lawmakers, however, returned to the meeting later, saying their walkout was meant to be a symbolic protest. The decision, one of them said, was also influenced by the merger of rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs with the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. "Opposition decided to walk out of all-party meeting to protest the Speaker's decision on rebel MPs of TMC, Shiv Sena (UBT)," Congress leader Pramod Tiwari told reporters at Parliament House complex where the meeting is underway.
CPM leader John Brittas said the invite to rebel TMC MPs to the all-party meeting was a "miscarriage of justice." Meanwhile, TMC MP Mahua Moitra said the entire opposition, including the Congress, the Samajwadi Party, DMK, JMM, Aam Aadmi Party, Conference, Left parties, Shiv Sena (UBT), walked out of the meeting in protest as the "so-called NCPI", which is an unrecognised party, was invited. Responding to the controversy later, Rijiju noted that the Nationalist Congress of Progressive India (NCPI), a group comprising around 20 rebel TMC MPs, has sought recognition from the Lok Sabha Speaker.
"How can you ignore it," he asked, referring to the Opposition's outburst. No final decision has been taken on the demand of the rebel TMC MPs to be recognised as part of the NCPI, and the matter is still under consideration, according to sources cited by news agency PTI. TMC rebel MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay, who attended the meeting along with Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, said they were invited and hence came representing the NCPI. Ends (With inputs from PTI)
The BriefWire