Mamata Banerjee's party seeks distance from libraries controversy in West Bengal

Kolkata:  Mamata Banerjee's party today tried to distance her from the controversy that has erupted after all public libraries were ordered to drop all English dailies and most other newspapers including the Ananda Bazar Patrika, which is the state's most-read paper.  

On Twitter this evening, her party's MP, Derek O'Brien said,  "To drag the CM's name into this 'controversy' is unfair.  Are we suggesting she starts micromanaging even library department lists?"  He added, "Circular issued by small time library services dept."
Last night, a circular signed by the Special Secretary, Library Services told 2500 public libraries what newspapers they can stock. All English dailies were to be removed, the notice said. Only eight papers made the cut  - five five Bengali, one Hindi and two Urdu dailies. Of these eight publications, four have editors or senior journalists who have been elected to the Rajya Sabha on Trinamool Congress tickets.   The circular states that public funds could not be spent on "any papers published or purported to be published by any political party." But the list of banned papers includes only one publication with direct links to a political party- the Ganashakti, which is a CPM mouthpiece.
Mr O'Brien says that the Times of India will also be stocked at government-funded libraries.
"This is worse than censorship; this has shades of fascism," said Sitaram Yechury from the Left, the main opposition party in West Bengal. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has appreciated the move, countered Library Services Minister Abdul Karim Chowdhury to local TV channels.  
"I have no idea why she has done this; she is trying to control what I read," said Pradeep Bhattacharjee, the president of the Congress, which is a partner in Ms Banerjee's government.  

The issue was also brought up in the state Assembly yesterday by a Congress MLA who called the government circular undemocratic and urged the chief minister to have it withdrawn. Mamata Banerjee was not present in the Assembly at that time.

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I want to continue in the UPA, but with respect: Mamata Banerjee to NDTV

New Delhi:  Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh amid reports that she was allegedly upset with the latter expressing regret over the departure of Dinesh Trivedi as the Railways Minister.

While insisting that her party abstained from voting on the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) instead of what is being dubbed as a walkout, in an exclusive interview to NDTV's Group Editor Barkha Dutt, Ms Banerjee  also made it clear that there can be no compromise on the anti-terror body in its current form.

The Trinamool Chief  said that she shares a good relationship with Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

Here are the highlights of her interview:
I do not think this (Dinesh Trivedi's resignation) is an issue for me.I just came because for 9 months I did not get the time.I have decided whenever Parliament is on I will come down for a day or two.Issue with Congress not a matter of ego; allies must get repect.
I think sometimes the Delhi people do not understand local issues, so there should be some mechanism to sort this out.I have a good relation with Soniaji. The Prime Minister is also a nice man. Maybe, some communication gap.Congress party has its manifesto; we have our manifesto. There are some issues like FDI, where we will take a stand.We are in favour of Lokpal, but when it was discussed they included the Lokayukta. They should not have included Lokayutka.Some issues are created necessarily.
There is a tendency to bulldoze the state governments.Like NCTC, if you want to work against a terrorist, you have to work together. You have to take the state governments into confidence.On NCTC, we thought it was better to abstain. If we voted against the government, it would not look nice; if we voted for then we weould go against the federal structure.It should not have been included in the President's address.We cannot compromise on some issues.Law and order is a state issue; I do not care if it is a Congress state or a BJP state.Partial rollback is the prerogative of the Rail Minister.
On Rail budget, it was not necessary to hike fares and freight rates together.It is not about Rajdhani class; you have to leave 3-tier and sleeper for the common people; these 2-3 areas  we have to think over.Its customary for the PM to praise the budget.Dinesh Trivedi is with us. In today's meeting also, he said he wants to continue in the party.Some people may have played a foul role, I do not want to comment on that.From our side, we are very transparent, we are a very pro-people party.I cannot speak good English, that is why you cannot bulldoze me everyday. I consider speaking good English not enough to belong to the 'elite' class.There are critics; let them be, they cannot fight me politically.Do not consider us like any other political party; we come from the grassroots.We were not born with a golden spoon; our papas were not in politics.
I want to continue with respect in the UPA.
We are insulted more than we are respected.
Whenever I raise an issue, they (the bigger parties) say we are blackmailing.I am happy if I get izzat from  the people. I believe in Ma, Maati ManushRespect means...if I have an issue, how can I compromise on it?Sometimes I feel hurt when I am misunderstood.We are not beggars; we have held our heads high. We are facing the legacy of the Left Front rule of 35 years. We are facing economic problems.Instead of help, they (Union Government) are taking away Rs 22000 crore. My income is Rs 21000 crore.
We are not asking for money; we need a 3-year moratorium. Why is the government bulldozing us?
It is not a one-party government. I want to continue with the UPA but with respect.In alliance politics, if you trust you must trust 100%.

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PM says he regrets Trivedi's exit, Mamata says her party disagrees

New Delhi:  Mamata Banerjee has met with the Prime Minister after he allegedly upset her by stating in Parliament that he regrets the departure of Dinesh Trivedi from his cabinet. Mr Trivedi is from Ms Banerjee's party, the Trinamool Congress, which is a key member of the ruling coalition at the centre. Ms Banerjee asked for him to be removed as soon as he proposed hiking passenger fares in the Railways Budget he presented in Parliament last week.
"I had a good meeting...we discussed a lot of issues," said Ms Banerjee after seeing the PM.  She flew into Delhi from Kolkata last night after Mr Trivedi finally obliged her by submitting his resignation. For four days after she asked the PM to remove him, Mr Trivedi said neither the PM nor his party chief had directly asked him to step down.
In Parliament this morning, the Prime Minister used his Motion of Thanks on the President's address today to meet at least one demand of the Opposition - clarity on Mr Trivedi's status as minister. Dr Singh confirmed that last night he had received first an email and then a formal letter of resignation from Mr Trivedi. He said that he had accepted Mr Trivedi's resignation and has forwarded the former minister's letter to President Pratibha Patil. He also said that he regrets the departure of Mr Trivedi, who belongs to Mamata Banerjee's party, the Trinamool Congress. Minutes later, Ms Banerjee retorted outside Parliament that the PM's remarks reflect "a personal opinion" and one that her party does not share. The Congress, meanwhile, said that Trinamool shouldn't object to what the PM said as he didn't say anything political.

According to sources, the PM's remarks also provoked Trinamool MPs to walk out during a vote on the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC). Allies are expected to vote along with the government. The vote on the NCTC was prompted by the Left and the BJP, who had moved amendments to the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address. Basically, they asked for references to the NCTC to be deleted from the speech made by President Pratibha Patil in parliament last week.  

While sharing that he had accepted Mr Trivedi's resignation, Dr Singh highlighted the difficulties of coalition politics and with some irony lauded Mr Trivedi for having presented a "Railway Budget which promised to carry out the vision 2020 that was outlined by his predecessor." Mr Trivedi's predecessor in Rail Bhawan was Mamata Banerjee, who is his party's chief, and demanded Mr Trivedi's resignation for proposing a hike in passenger fares.

As soon as the Lok Sabha convened after the weekend, the BJP said the Prime Minister must address Parliament to explain the chain of events that led to the Rail Minister's exit.

The BJP's Yashwant Sinha said, "The PM is the head of the Cabinet. He has the right to give a portfolio to someone else. But he is also obliged to share information with Parliament. But we are discovering everything in the newspapers," he said. "Dinesh Trivedi is in the House. He should also clarify the situation to Parliament," Mr Sinha added. Gurudas Dasgupta of the Left also said the Prime Minister owes parliament an explanation. "A backstage drama is taking place. Parliament is in session and we don't know what is happening," he said.

Mr Sinha brought a smile to the Finance Minister's face when he took a swipe at the PM saying he had great respect for Mr Mukherjee, who is Leader of the Lok Sabha; "the PM should have been leader but couldn't make it," Mr Sinha said. Dr Manmohan Singh is a rare Indian PM who is not a member of the Lok Sabha. He is a Rajya Sabha member from Guwahati.

Meanwhile, Mr Trivedi will come face-to-face with Ms Banerjee for the first time today since the controversy at a meeting of MPs of their party. He has not seen here since he presented his budget. He said last night that he continues to think of Ms Banerjee as his leader and has no plans to switch parties. Ms Banerjee simply said last night before leaving Kolkata for Delhi that she plans to meet "with all my people."

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Dinesh Trivedi wants marching orders in writing from Mamata

New Delhi\Kolkata:  Dinesh Trivedi has refused to resign as Railways Minister till he receives orders in writing from his party chief, Mamata Banerjee. "Till the time the matter is absolutely clear, I have suggested I do not want to take anything verbal. For me, Parliament has more sanctity than anything. So, I suggested let Mamata write me a letter so that there is no confusion...I will perform my duty as a Railway Minister," Mr Trivedi told reporters in New Delhi today.

Acting on Ms Banerjee's behalf, party colleague Kalyan Banerjee has reportedly told Mr Trivedi that when he was made Railways Minister, he did not receive written notice; hence it's not required now.

Since Ms Banerjee wrote to the PM asking for Mr Trivedi's removal, he has defied her repeatedly. He has attended Parliament and refused to rollback the hike in passenger fares that led to her demanding his dismissal. On record, he has been deferential, stating that he will quit as soon as Ms Banerjee requests. The two have reportedly not spoken directly since Mr Trivedi presented his Rail Budget on Wednesday.

Ms Banerjee has said repeatedly that she wants Mukul Roy, also from her party, to be made the new Railways Minister. The Congress had asked her to wait till March 30 when Parliament breaks to make the change. She has allegedly indicated that is not acceptable. Today in Kolkata she said, "Mukul Roy will be next Railways Minister. He has been a Trinamool MP for six years already. He has been re-nominated to the Rajya Sabha this time. He is a good worker.  Now the government will have to decide."

However last night, it appeared that Ms Banerjee had lifted that deadline. "It is nothing to be hurried, nothing to be worried. The issue is being dealt with by the PM and Mamata," said Sudip Bandhopadhyay, who is from the Trinamool Congress (TMC). He added that the Prime Minister and Ms Banerjee spoke on Thursday night.

The lifting of the deadline for Mr Trivedi's removal suggested that Ms Banerjee was not immune to reports that the Congress has been considering replacing her in the ruling coalition at the Centre with Mulayam Singh Yadav and his Samajwadi Party MPs.

Sources in both the Congress and Ms Banerjee's party say that both sides are also close to resolving another large dispute. On Monday, in Parliament, the Prime Minister will address some of the concerns raised by Ms Banerjee to the new National Counter Terror Centre or NCTC. Ms Banerjee has said the NCTC's powers violate the autonomy of state governments and federalism. Her party moved amendments to the President's address to Parliament earlier this week, asking for a reference to the NCTC to be deleted. The President's address outlines the government's agenda; allies rarely ask for amendments. The BJP has moved similar amendments on the NCTC, and is likely to press for a vote. That could put Ms Banerjee's MPs in the awkward position of voting with the BJP and against the government. The PM, in his reply to the motion of thanks to the President's address on Monday, is expected to assuage Ms Banerjee's fears about the NCTC. That could help diffuse at least some of the tension between the political partners.

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Mamata was aware of the fare hike before Railway Budget: Sources

New Delhi/Kolkata:  In the midst of all the noise that she has made over demanding the removal of party man Dinesh Trivedi as Railways Minister over the hike in passenger fares, it has now emerged that Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was reportedly aware of the proposed increase in rates before the Railways Budget.

Sources have told NDTV that Ms Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, and Gautam Sanyal, who is her Special Secretary were in the loop of the politically-sensitive decision. Not just that, leaders from the Opposition, sources say, were also asked for their views on the Budget before the hike in fares was finalised. Most leaders, cutting across party lines, admitted that an increase in fares was inevitable, sources add.

The revelation would come as a huge embarrassment for Ms Banerjee, who has been stinging in her criticism of Mr Trivedi and is adamant over his removal as the Railways Minister over the hike in fares. Her accusations of "betrayal" levelled against Mr Trivedi could also fall flat given the fact that she had reportedly been consulted over the hike - a bold move and the first in nine years that has put Mr Trivedi in the eye of a storm after he presented his maiden Railways Budget on Wednesday.

But the minister seems unfazed. As the government contemplates over Ms Banerjee's demand for his ouster, Mr Trivedi said, ""I expect the PM to do what the PM should do". He has also refused to resign as Railways Minister till he receives orders in writing from his party chief, Ms Banerjee. "Till the time the matter is absolutely clear, I have suggested I do not want to take anything verbal. For me, Parliament has more sanctity than anything. So, I suggested let Mamata write me a letter so that there is no confusion...I will perform my duty as a Railway Minister," Mr Trivedi told reporters in New Delhi today.

Acting on Ms Banerjee's behalf, party colleague Kalyan Banerjee, earlier in the day, reportedly told Mr Trivedi that when he was made Railways Minister, he did not receive written notice; hence it was not required now. Something that was reiterated by senior party leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay who said that there will be nothing in writing to Dinesh Trivedi. 

Since Ms Banerjee wrote to the PM asking for Mr Trivedi's removal, he has defied her repeatedly. He has attended Parliament and refused to rollback the hike in passenger fares that led to her demanding his dismissal. On record, he has been deferential, stating that he will quit as soon as Ms Banerjee requests. The two have reportedly not spoken directly since Mr Trivedi presented his Rail Budget on Wednesday.

Ms Banerjee has said repeatedly that she wants Mukul Roy, also from her party, to be made the new Railways Minister. The Congress had asked her to wait till March 30 when Parliament breaks to make the change. She has allegedly indicated that is not acceptable. Today in Kolkata she said, "Mukul Roy will be next Railways Minister. He has been a Trinamool MP for six years already. He has been re-nominated to the Rajya Sabha this time. He is a good worker. Now the government will have to decide."

However last night, it appeared that Ms Banerjee had lifted that deadline. "It is nothing to be hurried, nothing to be worried. The issue is being dealt with by the PM and Mamata," said Sudip Bandhopadhyay, who is from the Trinamool Congress (TMC). He added that the Prime Minister and Ms Banerjee spoke on Thursday night.

The lifting of the deadline for Mr Trivedi's removal suggested that Ms Banerjee was not immune to reports that the Congress has been considering replacing her in the ruling coalition at the Centre with Mulayam Singh Yadav and his Samajwadi Party MPs.

Sources in both the Congress and Ms Banerjee's party say that both sides are also close to resolving another large dispute. On Monday, in Parliament, the Prime Minister will address some of the concerns raised by Ms Banerjee to the new National Counter Terror Centre or NCTC. Ms Banerjee has said the NCTC's powers violate the autonomy of state governments and federalism. Her party moved amendments to the President's address to Parliament earlier this week, asking for a reference to the NCTC to be deleted. The President's address outlines the government's agenda; allies rarely ask for amendments. The BJP has moved similar amendments on the NCTC, and is likely to press for a vote. That could put Ms Banerjee's MPs in the awkward position of voting with the BJP and against the government. The PM, in his reply to the motion of thanks to the President's address on Monday, is expected to assuage Ms Banerjee's fears about the NCTC. That could help diffuse at least some of the tension between the political partners.

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Samajwadi to stick by govt if Mamata pulls out, says leader

New Delhi:  With Trinamool Congress turning on the heat on the issue of rail fare hike, the Samajwadi Party has offered solace to the Congress, saying its outside support to the coalition will continue.

"If Trinamool pulls out, our outside support will continue to the government," Samajwadi Party MP Shailendra Kumar told reporters today.

He dismissed speculation that the Samajwadi Party will be part of the Union Cabinet, saying, "There is no such thing."

Asked if the Congress and the SP were in talks on the issue, he said, "No talks are going on."

Mr Kumar's reaction came a day after Congress President Sonia Gandhi sent Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal to the swearing-in of Akhilesh Yadav as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.

It was a subtle signal from Gandhi that the Congress would like to bank on the support of the SP which has 22 members in the Lok Sabha.

The Trinamool Congress, which is the second-largest ally of the Congress, has 19 members in the Lower House.

Commenting on the Union Budget for 2012-13, Kumar said, "They have not done much for students and farmers and have not given much attention on the commodities used by poor people... It is a mixed budget".

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Dinesh Trivedi stays till March 30: Congress' firm message to Mamata

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It's a fight within a family, Mamata committed to govt: Trinamool

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How UPA can survive without Mamata

New Delhi:  Mamata Banerjee might have cried wolf once too often and a weary Congress is said to be looking at other options to include in the UPA coalition that it leads. Mamata Banerjee has precipitated crisis after embarrassing crisis for the central government, based entirely on the certitude that her 19 MPs are crucial for the survival of the Congress-led coalition which has a very thin majority in the Lok Sabha.
The Congress is now looking at the 22 MPs of the Samajwadi Party to possibly offset the loss of Mamata's 19 if it comes to a parting of ways. The SP already offers unsolicited support from the outside to the Congress. As does Mayawati's BSP. The Congress will count on that support continuing formally. There has also been speculation about the Congress attempting to woo the SP into government with a Cabinet berth for SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. Then there is Lalu Yadav who too has helped the UPA government in sticky situations. (Read: Will Congress re-boot the UPA with Mulayam Singh Yadav and without Mamata Banerjee?)
The UPA needs to be sure of its numbers as it attempts to push important legislations and reform measures in this Budget Session and later this year. Its math will take into account the following numbers:
Total number of seats in the Lok Sabha: 543
Simple majority at halfway: 272
UPA has at present (Including Trinamool): 276
Numbers that matter:
Trinamool: 19
Samajwadi Party: 22
Bahujan Samaj Party: 21
Rashtriya Janata Dal: 4
Possible calculations:
UPA without Trinamool: 257
UPA without Trinamool, but with SP: 279
UPA with support from SP and BSP: 300
UPA with support from SP, RJD and BSP: 304
UPA break-up: 276
Congress: 206
Trinamool: 19
DMK: 18
Nationalist Congress Party: 9
National Conference: 3
Smaller parties or individuals together: 21

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Will Mamata vote against the government tomorrow? Unlikely, say sources

Kolkata:  Mamata Banerjee's commitment to her fight against the National Counter Terrorism Centre could be tested tomorrow in Parliament. The head of the Trinamool Congress has field-marshalled a group of ten chief ministers who have opposed the centre's new anti-terror agency on the grounds that it erodes the autonomy of state governments.

Ms Banerjee's party members yesterday moved amendments to "the motion of thanks to the President" for her speech delivered this week to Parliament (the President's address  outlines the government's agenda). In the Lok Sabha, these amendments have been rejected on technical grounds -the wording was incorrect and they were filed too late. But they've been accepted in the Rajya Sabha. The main opposition party, the BJP, has moved similar amendments. So if Ms Banerjee wants to further embarrass the government which she belongs to, her MPs could vote with the BJP and against the ruling UPA. That's not likely to happen, say sources.  

The exit route for Ms Banerjee may come in the form of a protest by her MPs, who could walk out of the House before a vote, demanding financial assistance for Bengal, which is governed by their leader. Ms Banerjee has been asking the centre for 22000 crores; she also wants the centre to suspend the interest the state owes on loans already taken.

Financial assistance is the centre's only hold over Ms Banerjee, whose relationship with the UPA has been in the danger zone for a while now. At a dinner hosted by the Prime Minister last night, Ms Banerjee was missing - she chose to fly to Nagpur instead to attend a wedding. The fact that she deputed a first-time MP, Ratna De Nag, and not one of her senior ministers or leaders was seen as a flat snub to the Congress.

Pointedly, Ms Banerjee deputed two of her union ministers to attend the swearing-in today of the Punjab government, a partnership between the Akalis and the BJP. For the UPA's political rival, Ms Banerjee sent a senior delegation. The Prime Minister's dinner, in comparison, received minimal attention.

At the dinner last night, senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee made it clear that Ms Banerjee's amendments could cost the government heavily - if a vote was held, he warned, the government could lose.

Ms Banerjee's 19 Lok Sabha MPs give her the power to call the shots with the Congress - without her support, the UPA would collapse - and she has held the government and its policies to hostage with increasing daring. She recently forced the UPA to suspend its reforms in retail - the increased Foreign Direct Investment in shops or chains that stock different brands was a move by the Prime Minister and his team to prove wrong allegations of policy paralysis.

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Mamata Banerjee has her way, PM to sack Dinesh Trivedi: Sources

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Mamata wins, Dinesh Trivedi resigns, rollback of fare hike soon: Sources

New Delhi:  Mamata Banerjee has proved that in its current state, the Congress cannot refuse any demand she presents. The Prime Minister will agree, say sources, that her own party colleague, Dinesh Trivedi, will be fired as Railways Minister. Sources also say Mr Trivedi has sent in his resignation to the PM. Ms Banerjee is punishing Mr Trivedi for announcing a nominal hike in passenger fares on Wednesday. The Railways budget he presented in Parliament had been described by the PM as progressive and modern. (Read: Who is Dinesh Trivedi?)

Ms Banerjee disagreed vehemently. She wrote to the Prime Minister earlier on Wednesday night asking for Mr Trivedi to be replaced by Mukul Roy, a union minister from her party. She also wants the government to reverse the hike in passenger fares announced by Mr Trivedi in Parliament today as he shared the Railways budget. Sources say the rollback might happen after March 16 - the day Union Budget will be presented in Parliament. The Congress' senior most leaders met tonight at the Prime Minister's residence where it was decided that its upto Ms Banerjee to decide her nominee to the union cabinet - she has suggested her party's Mukul Roy, currently a union minister. Mr Trivedi's removal will make political history - this is the first time that a minister will be fired even before Parliament debates his budget. (Read: Full text of Dinesh Trivedi speech on Railway Budget 2012)   

The Congress has decided to accelerate its courtship of Mulayam Singh Yadav as a possible replacement for Ms Banerjee, who has whipped the government into submission on many occasions because her 19 Lok Sabha MPs make her essential to the survival of the coalition. Mr Yadav's 22 MPs make him a viable option and he has often rescued the government by voting in its favour on crucial legislation. So senior Congress leaders like Pawan Bansal will attend the swearing-in today of his son, Akhilesh, as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.    

Mr  Trivedi said earlier today that he had done his duty and "now it is upto God."  The hike in fares he announced were nominal, ranging from two paise per kilometre to 30 paise per kilometre. This is the first hike in fares in nine years.  In a lengthy interview to NDTV this evening, he suggested that he was prepared for his dismissal. Mr Trivedi acknowledged that he had not briefed Ms Banerjee about the hike in fares. (Highlights - No clue why my party reacted this way: Dinesh Trivedi to NDTV)

Internally, say sources, the Trinamool Congress believes that if they don't oppose this hike they will find it difficult to object to the next petrol or diesel price hike - something they have done in the past to prove they stand for the aam admi or common man. (Railway Budget 2012 highlights)

Mr Trivedi was attacked by his own party immediately after he had presented his first rail budget. First, the Trinamool's Rajya Sabha MP Derek O Brien, tweeted, "Railway Budget... what was all that about increasing fares across the board? Upper class... maybe ok... but all? Sorry, cannot agree." Then, fellow TMC minister Sudip Bandopadhyay demanded that the hike be withdrawn. "We are opposing because of our party leader Mamata Banerjee who has taught us to protect interests of poor people."

The final word from Ms Banerjee came a little after 4 pm; she declared at a rally in Nandigram in Bengal, "We will not accept the hike, be sure of that." Ms Banerjee then headed back to Kolkata and reportedly wrote to the PM at around 8.30 in the evening asking that Mr Trivedi be removed. She has also summoned Mr Trivedi to Kolkata.  

Earlier today, sources said that Mr Trivedi had been ordered by Ms Banerjee to either resign or roll back the increased prices. He had indicated that he would not change his mind. Referring to the precarious financial health of the railways, he said, "The railways was getting into the ICU and I have pulled it out of ICU. You cannot have everything together." (Full transcript: Dinesh Trivedi speaks to NDTV)

Sources say Ms Banerjee has been upset with Mr Trivedi for a while now, possibly because of his perceived closeness to the Congress. He also ran into trouble last week when he said that his party may not be opposed to early general elections, which means the UPA would not last its full term. Ms Banerjee later said that her MPs had been asked not to express their personal views.

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Mamata vs the centre: Amendments rejected for technical reasons

New Delhi:  For once, it's not the Congress that's feeling Mamata Banerjee's wrath. The Trinamool Party chief directed her ire at the Railways Minister, who is her own nominee to the union cabinet.  Ms Banerjee has rejected the nominal increase in passenger fares announced by Dinesh Trivedi.  Sources say he has been asked to either withdraw the hike, or resign. The diktat is humiliating for her minister, and embarrassing for the government.

The respite of indirect fire for Congress is sweetened by the fact that Ms Banerjee's party has tripped over its own attempts to challenge the union government on another front -the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).  Her MPs yesterday moved amendments to the President's address - the speech delivered by the President to Parliament that outlines the government's agenda.

Those amendments have been rejected for technical reasons- they were not worded correctly.  Ms Banerjee's MPs had asked for the reference to the National Counter Terrorism Centre to be deleted from the President's speech.  The opposition BJP had moved a similar amendment; if it pushed for a vote, Ms Banerjee's MPs would have been obliged to vote alongside the opposition and against the government that they are a part of.

The gaffe brings huge respite to the Congress whose relationship with Ms Banerjee has been in the danger zone for a while now.  At a dinner hosted by the Prime Minister last night, Ms Banerjee was missing - she chose to fly to Nagpur instead to attend a wedding.  The fact that she deputed a first-time MP, Ratna De Nag, and not one of her senior ministers or leaders was seen as a flat snub to the Congress.

Pointedly, Ms Banerjee deputed two of her union ministers to attend the swearing-in today of the Punjab government, a partnership between the Akalis and the BJP.  For the UPA's political rival, Ms Banerjee sent a senior delegation.  The Prime Minister's dinner, in comparison, received minimal attention.

At the dinner last night, senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee made it clear that Ms Banerjee's amendments could cost the government heavily- if a vote was held, he warned, the government could lose.

Ms Banerjee's 19 Lok Sabha MPs give her the power to call the shots with the Congress -without her support, the UPA would collapse - and she has held the government and its policies to hostage with increasing daring.  She recently forced the UPA to suspend its reforms in retail - the increased Foreign Direct Investment in shops or chains that stock different brands was a move by the Prime Minister and his team to prove wrong allegations of policy paralysis.

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Will try to convince Mamata about new passenger fares: Dinesh Trivedi to NDTV

New Delhi:  After Railways Minister Dinesh Trivedi announced a nominal hike in train ticket fares today - the first in nine years - sources say his party chief Mamata Banerjee has told him to either resign or roll back the increased prices. Publically she has said that the hike is not acceptable.

The railway minister said, "I have done my duty... now I leave it to God." Referring to the precarious financial health of the railways, he said, "The railways was getting into the ICU and I have pulled it out of ICU. You cannot have everything together." The fares are nominal - two paise per km for the cheapest tickets and 30 paise per kilometre for the more expensive ones.

This was my Budget, not Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's, not Mamata Banerjee's, said Mr Trivedi, hours after being publically reprimanded by his party for hiking fares. The Railway minister held that he was "very happy with my budget...MPs across party lines have congratulated me. The general feeling is it is a very good budget. I have done my duty to the best of my ability." He said the country came first, he had taken a conscious decision and that "I have no clue" why his party was hitting out at his budget, for he had been "too busy" with his budget. He also said that he would resign if he was asked to by his leader, who he said  he had not consulted on his budget, but insisted he would stand by good economics versus politics.

The final Triamool word comes from Nandigram in West Bengal, where Mamata Banerjee said, "I assure you that we will not accept this fare hike." Mr Trivedi said he would try to convince Ms Banerjee.

Immediately after Mr Trivedi presented his first rail budget, his party colleagues attacked him. First, the Trinamool's Rajya Sabha MP Derek O Brien, tweeted, "Railway Budget... what was all that about increasing fares across the board? Upper class... maybe ok... but all? Sorry, cannot agree." Then, fellow TMC minister Sudip Bandopadhyay demanded that the hike be withdrawn. "We are opposing because of our party leader Mamata Banerjee who has taught us to protect interests of poor people. We have told Dinesh Trivedi to withdraw the hike. The party has not discussed anything with minister on the railway budget," he said.

Ms Banerjee's diktat today causes huge embarrassment not just for Mr Trivedi, but for the UPA as well, where her party is a senior member. The Prime Minister praised Mr Trivedi's Railways budget, describing it as "forward-looking with emphasis on safety and modernisation." First reactions from passengers all over the country have been largely the same: that the fare hike is too nominal to really hurt passengers; they all said they would readily pay a little more for a safer journey. (Rail Budget: Passenger fares hiked after eight years; focus on safety, fiscal prudence) But with her 19 Lok Sabha MPs, Ms Banerjee has the power to topple the government. So no demand is dismissed out of hand. Referring to reports of her differences with the Railways Minister, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said this was "an internal TMC matter" and said issues like a potential rollback of fares would have to be "looked into."

"If you roll back the fares, you have to roll back safety too," countered the Railways Minister. His party chief's opposition was ideological, he said, making a point of the fact that "it is wrong to think that the railways ministry is run from Writer's Building (the seat of the West Bengal government in Kolkata)." The minister also said a difference of opinion did not mean a falling apart.

But sources say Ms Banerjee has been upset with Mr Trivedi for a while now, possibly because of his perceived closeness to the Congress. They say that Mr Trivedi meeting Rahul Gandhi recently did not wash well with Ms Banerjee, though Mr Trivedi had said it was to discuss some railway related matter. The, last week, Mr Trivedi said that his party may not be opposed to early general elections - Ms Banerjee later said that her MPs had been asked not to express their personal views.

As Dinesh Trivedi braves it out in political isolation, there is also a theory doing the rounds that Ms Banerjee and her minister could be playing good cop, bad cop. That the entire drama will play out to a denouement where Mr Trivedi will eventually roll back the fare hike and Ms Banerjee will be the political hero. For now, Mr Trivedi is resolute that there shall be no roll back.   

Sitaram Yechury of the Left says Ms Banerjee's stand today is duplicitous. "The Rail Budget is cleared by the government of which Dinesh is a part then they (TMC) go and protest," he said.

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Will Mamata vote against the government today? Unlikely, say sources

Kolkata:  Mamata Banerjee's commitment to her fight against the National Counter Terrorism Centre could be tested today in Parliament. The head of the Trinamool Congress has field-marshalled a group of ten chief ministers who have opposed the Centre's new anti-terror agency on the grounds that it erodes the autonomy of state governments.

Ms Banerjee's party members had moved amendments to "the motion of thanks to the President" for her speech delivered this week to Parliament (the President's address  outlines the government's agenda). In the Lok Sabha, these amendments have been rejected on technical grounds - the wording was incorrect and they were filed too late. But they've been accepted in the Rajya Sabha. The main Opposition party, the BJP, has moved similar amendments. So if Ms Banerjee wants to further embarrass the government which she belongs to, her MPs could vote with the BJP and against the ruling UPA. That's not likely to happen, say sources.

The exit route for Ms Banerjee may come in the form of a protest by her MPs, who could walk out of the House before a vote, demanding financial assistance for West Bengal, which is governed by their leader. Ms Banerjee has been asking the Centre for Rs 22000 crore; she also wants the Centre to suspend the interest the state owes on loans already taken.

Financial assistance is the Centre's only hold over Ms Banerjee, whose relationship with the UPA has been in the danger zone for a while now. At a dinner hosted by the Prime Minister last night, Ms Banerjee was missing - she chose to fly to Nagpur instead to attend a wedding. The fact that she deputed a first-time MP, Ratna De Nag, and not one of her senior ministers or leaders was seen as a flat snub to the Congress.

Pointedly, Ms Banerjee deputed two of her Union ministers to attend the swearing-in of the Punjab government, a partnership between the Akalis and the BJP. For the UPA's political rival, Ms Banerjee sent a senior delegation. The Prime Minister's dinner, in comparison, received minimal attention.

At the dinner on Tuesday night, senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee made it clear that Ms Banerjee's amendments could cost the government heavily - if a vote was held, he warned, the government could lose.

Ms Banerjee's 19 Lok Sabha MPs give her the power to call the shots with the Congress - without her support, the UPA would collapse - and she has held the government and its policies to hostage with increasing daring. She recently forced the UPA to suspend its reforms in retail - the increased Foreign Direct Investment in shops or chains that stock different brands was a move by the Prime Minister and his team to prove wrong allegations of policy paralysis.

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PM's dinner for allies amid reprimands from DMK, Mamata

New Delhi:  On a day when two senior partners in his coalition snubbed the government, the Prime Minister is hosting a dinner for all his allies. The meet-and-greet is being held at his residence, 7 Race Course Road. The National Conference's Farooq Abdullah is present; TR Baalu is representing the DMK. Mamata Banerjee's RSVP is causing much political angst - she has deputed her MP Ratna De Nag. Sharad Pawar, who heads the Nationalist Congress Party or NCP fainted in the Lok Sabha today and was discharged from hospital this evening; his deputy and union minister Praful Patel is at the dinner instead. (Read: Pawar faints in Lok Sabha, discharged from hospital)
The Congress has been criticised lately by its allies for poor coordination and for failing to consult them. Tonight's dinner is seen as a chance to rebuild bridges amid reports that the coalition is on shaky ground. Ms Banerjee has denied interest in exiting the government or in exploring political options, but her actions have suggested otherwise. Talk of a Third Front with the Samajwadi Party, the Left and Chandrababu Naidu's TDP continues to do the rounds.  
Earlier today, Ms Banerjee's Trinamool Congress and the DMK made public moves that undermine the government.
The President's address to Parliament inaugurates the first session of the new year and explains the government's agenda. Yesterday, President Pratibha Patil delivered her speech, launching the budget session, Today, the DMK and Mamata Banerjee registered their protests by asking for amendments to that speech.

Ms Banerjee has asked her MPs to move an amendment that asks for the reference to the new National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) deleted. The chief minister of West Bengal has been the Group Captain for ten chief ministers who have objected to the NCTC on the grounds that its powers encroach upon those of state governments. The Centre has delayed the commissioning of the NCTC till an extensive dialogue is completed with states.

President Patil had said in para 91 of her speech, "The National Intelligence Grid and the National Counter Terrorism Centre aim to improve India's capability to counter internal security threats." Because state governments have not lifted their objections to the NCTC, Ms Banerjee's party wants its mention to be removed. In the Lok Sabha today, Home Minister P Chidambaram said, "I believe NCTC is an absolute necessity; I do not believe it violates the federal structure."

The DMK's amendments want the President's address to reflect India's stand on alleged war crimes by the Sri Lankan government. A resolution backed by the US against reported atrocities will come up within the next few days at the United Nations Human Rights Council at Geneva. The DMK has said India must vote against Sri Lanka. The party also wants the President's address to refer to the repeated arrests by Sri Lanka of fishermen from Tamil Nadu.

Ms Banerjee late last year forced the government to suspend its reforms in retail just days after they were announced. With her 19 MPs, she is an indispensable partner in the UPA. She also accused the Centre of violating the principles of federalism late last year, when the Centre introduced the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill in the Lok Sabha. Though the bill was passed there, it has yet to be cleared by the Rajya Sabha. She also accused the Centre of violating the principles of federalism late last year, when the Centre introduced the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill in the Lok Sabha. Though the bill was passed there, it has yet to be cleared by the Rajya Sabha.

Though Ms Banerjee has said that she remains committed to the UPA, her recent gestures suggest she is not closed to exploring other options. She accepted invites to the swearing-in ceremonies for Akhilesh Yadav in UP and the Akali-BJP government in Punjab; the Congress took offense. Later, she said she would send representatives instead.

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Mamata strikes again, wants amendments to President Patil's address

New Delhi:  The latest panic attack for the Congress comes once again courtesy Mamata Banerjee. The West Bengal chief minister, who has made a habit of publicly challenging the policies of the UPA, has taken on the government once again over its new anti-terror agency.

Ms Banerjee has asked her MPs to move amendments to the address delivered by President Pratibha Patil to Parliament yesterday.  She wants the reference to the new National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) deleted. The President's address, which outlines the agenda of the government, formally launched the Budget session of Parliament.

Ms Banerjee has been the Group Captain for ten chief ministers who have objected to the NCTC on the grounds that its powers encroach upon those of state governments. The centre has delayed the commissioning of the NCTC till an extensive dialogue is completed with states. In the Lok Sabha today, Home Minister P Chidambaram defended the NCTC. "I believe NCTC is an absolute necessity; I do not believe it violates the federal structure," said Mr Chidambaram.

President Patil had said in para 91 of her speech , "The National Intelligence Grid and the National Counter Terrorism Centre aim to improve India's capability to counter  internal security threats." Because state governments have not lifted their objections to the NCTC, Ms Banerjee's party wants its mention to be removed.

Ms Banerjee late last year forced the government to suspend its reforms in retail just days after they were announced. With her 19 MPs, she is an indispensable partner in the UPA.  She also accused the centre of violating the principles of federalism late last year, when the centre introduced the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill in the Lok Sabha. Though the bill was passed there, it has yet to be cleared by the Rajya Sabha. She also accused the centre of violating the principles of federalism late last year, when the centre introduced the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill in the Lok Sabha.  Though the bill was passed there, it has yet to be cleared by the Rajya Sabha.

Though Ms Banerjee has said that she remains committed to the UPA, her recent gestures suggest she is not closed to exploring other options. She accepted invites to the swearing-in ceremonies for Akhilesh Yadav in UP and the Akali-BJP government in Punjab; the Congress took offense. Later, she said she would send representatives instead.

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PM's dinner for allies tonight comes amid tension with Mamata, DMK

New Delhi:  The Prime Minister has invited his allies to a dinner at his residence in the capital tonight. The dinner, say sources, will be held in the gardens of 7, Race Course Road. The meet-and-greet comes as two major allies of the ruling coalition, the DMK and Mamata Banerjee, have expressed serious differences with government policy.
Ms Banerjee has chosen not to attend the dinner - she will be represented by Ratna Dey Nag, an MP from her party, the Trinamool Congress. Her RSVP will undoubtedly cause a new anxiety attack within the Congress which has been dealing with reports that Ms Banerjee is exploring other political alliances. Though she has denied any interest in quitting the UPA, her actions depict a relationship stretched to breaking point. Adding to the divided house of the UPA is the DMK, which has told the government that it wants India to vote against Sri Lanka for "alleged war crimes" at the next session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. 

First, Ms Banerjee. In a move that greatly undermines the UPA, her MPs have asked for a formal change to President Pratibha Patil's speech made in Parliament yesterday. The President's address inaugurates the Budget session by outlining the government's agenda. Ms Banerjee wants an amendment that asks for a reference to the new National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) to be deleted. Ms Banerjee has captained a series of chief ministers who object to the NCTC because they find it impinges upon the authority of state governments. Since late last year, Ms Banerjee has fought the UPA on the Lokpal Bill, petrol prices, and reforms in retail, which the government was forced to suspend because of her ardent objections.

The DMK has told the UPA that India must vote against Sri Lanka in a resolution moved by the US that asks for a detailed investigation into alleged human rights violations and war crimes by President Rajapaksa's government. However, the Prime Minister's reply to DMK chief M Karunanidhi seems to suggest this is unlikely. The PM says India wants to work with stake-holders so that "rather than deepening confrontation and mis-trust between the concerned parties, a way forward is found on issues related to accountability and reconciliation."

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Mamata Banerjee to attend swearing-in ceremonies of Punjab and UP chief ministers

Kolkata:  In what might be seen as a snub to the Congress, West Bengal Chief Minister and the UPA's most troublesome ally at the Centre, Mamata Banerjee, will attend the swearing-in ceremonies of the chief ministers of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Reports earlier on Saturday suggested that Mamata would decline the invitation from Akali Dal to attend Parkash Singh Badal's swearing in on March 14.
"Just learnt that Mamatadi will be going to both Lucknow & Chandigarh for the CM swearing in ceremonies (sic)," tweeted Trinamool Congress (TMC) spokesperson Derek O'Brien on Saturday night.
In Punjab, the Akalis have been voted back to power with their partner, the BJP.  The Congress had counted on winning the state. Ms Banerjee's presence at the ceremony next week will be seen as an indication of her increasingly warm relations with Congress rivals like Naveen Patnaik of Odisha. Ms Banerjee has been a loud voice in a campaign by Chief Ministers who say the Centre is a serial offender of the principles of federalism.
Before Mamata's u-turn on her decision to skip the Akali Dal's invitation, earlier on Saturday, in no small measure of relief for the Congress, she said "she is not a traitor" and has no plans to create the need for mid-term elections. Ms Banerjee's recent decisions have led to unhappy confrontations with the UPA, of which she is an indispensable member.
Meanwhile, Mr Badal's son, Sukhbir Singh Badal, has explained that his invite to Ms Banerjee has "nothing to do with wooing." "We have invited Chief Ministers from several states because of personal relations Mr Parkash Singh Badal shares with them," he added.
While Congress leader Rashid Alvi declined to comment on the invite extended to Ms Banerjee, Congress General Secretary Shakeel Ahmed, who met Ms Banerjee on Saturday, sought to play down the matter, "Invitation extended to Mamata Banerjee for the swearing-in ceremony should not be seen as a political gesture," he said.
The BJP's Sushma Swaraj said after the recent state elections in Punjab and UP that mid-term polls are likely. Dinesh Trivedi, cabinet minister from Ms Banerjee's party, said this week that he believes his party may prefer mid-term polls to capitalize on the voter preference that gave Ms Banerjee a stunning verdict two years ago. He later said that was his personal view and Ms Banerjee has said in Kolkata that all MPs from her party have been alerted not to share private opinions.
The elections in Punjab and UP have demonstrated the political might of regional parties who their states identify with. Both national parties- the BJP and the Congress-were marginalised. In Punjab, the BJP won fewer seats than it had in the last state elections. It was saved by the strong numbers if its collaborator, the Akalis, with who it now returns to power.
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Parkash Singh Badal invites Mamata Banerjee to his swearing-in ceremony

Chandigarh:  Shiromani Akali Dal's (SAD) Parkash Singh Badal, who will take oath as the Chief Minister of Punjab for a fifth time on March 14, has invited West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to attend the swearing in ceremony.
"Badal telephoned Banerjee today and invited her to attend his swearing-in as chief minister at Chandigarh," state secretariat sources in Kolkata said.
Mr Badal, who is 84, will continue as chief minister. For the first time in the last forty years, Punjab has given a second consecutive term to a party in power. The alliance of the SAD and the BJP will return to office with 68 of the 117 seats. The Congress, which had hoped that the anti-incumbency habit in the state would push it into government, was left with 46 seats.
After winning the elections on Tuesday, Mr Badala said he owed the win to his 50-year-old son, Sukhbir, who was made party president in 2008 and deputy chief minister in 2009. That appointment left the Badals wide open to allegations of nepotism. It wasn't just outsiders who took aim. The chief minister's nephew, Manpreet, who was Finance Minister, gathered his supporters and quit the Akali Dal. He set up the People's Party of Punjab (PPP); the party failed to win a single seat, and Manpreet lost both the constituencies he contested, one of which he has won four times in the past. "Manpreet has committed a Himalayan blunder and political suicide," his estranged uncle said after results were declared. Manpreet's father, Gurudas, lost his deposit in his election.
The Akalis' victory is being attributed to the party's focus on development. The BJP has done worse in these elections than last time - it has got 12 seats. But the Akalis say this does not make their partner a liability. "Last time, they won 19 of the 23 seats they were assigned," said Naresh Gujral, Rajya Sabha MP. "They could not have repeated that performance." 
The Badals' appeal was also undented by the influential religious sect Dera Sacha Sauda lending its support to the Congress.
The Congress candidate for chief minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, had predicted his party would defeat the Akalis. He won his seat, but his son, Raninder Singh, lost his constituency.

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