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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