Govt sure of Rail Budget passage

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The government on Thursday expressed confidence over the passage of the Railway Budget and the General Budget, sending out a clear message to the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamul Congress that its pressure tactics will not affect these Budgets.

The Congress’ 'crisis managers' are working on a strategy to ensure that the government’s financial legislations pass smoothly in the two Houses of Parliament with or without the Trinamul Congress.
They are keeping the Samajwadi Party (22 members in the Lok Sabha)), the BSP (21) and the RJD (4) in good humour at a time when the current mood of the political parties is not in favour of a mid-term poll.

Besides, they are confident that 13 one-member parties and the nine Independents will oppose any move to destablise the government besides other parties.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Thursday sent two senior leaders — AICC treasurer Motilal Vora and parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal — to Lucknow to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Akhilesh Yadav as the Uttar Pradesh chief minister on her behalf.

In a letter to SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mrs Gandhi said she wanted to attend the function but could not. She also conveyed good wishes to Mr Akhilesh Yadav.

The government is tightl-ipped on whether the hike in the raliway fares will be rolled back under the Trinamul Congress’ pressure, especially when the Railway Budget was 'approved' by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee. Mr Mukherjee said in the Lok Sabha, “As the finance minister, I own the responisbility (of the Budget).”

UPA insiders said Mr Dinesh Trivedi’s Railway Budget was influenced by the PM’s line. And he is openly defending the Budget.

In the evening, Mr Banasl rejected the Opposition charge that the governemnt has lost the number after the Trinamul Congress mounted pressure on the PM to drop railway minister Dinesh Trivedi from the Cabinet for the fare hike.

He expressed the confidence of a smooth passage of the motion of thanks to the President’s address as also the rail budget and general budget.

Mr Bansal said that the government has no problems over numbers. “I see no difficulty in carrying the motion. Nothing needs to be done. Everything is fine. Trinamuol Congress is part of UPA. We are confident of the passage of the rail budget as also the general budget,” Bansal said.

He was asked whether he was sent to Lucknow along with Mr Motilal Vora to seek the support of SP as the government is wary of Trinamool Congress’ moves.

“UPA’s strength is 274 and it has the outside support of SP, BSP and RJD,” the minister said.
A union minister insisted the government will have a smooth sailing on the motion saying even if any amendment gets passed it would mean “only a tinge of embarrassment” and will “have no serious bearing” on the government.

Trinamul rules out threat to UPA at centre

Indicating that an agreement has been clinched with the Congress over the exit of Railways minister Dinesh Trivedi, the Trinamul Congress on Thursday ruled out any threat to the ruling UPA government at the Centre.

“We are supporting the government totally,” maintained Trinamul parliamentary party leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay when asked whether the government was stable or it faces any threat.

On the fate of Mr Trivedi as the Union minister, Mr Bandyopadhyay said, “Trivedi is an individual. Trinamul Congress is of the opinion that he should not remain as Railway minister unless he withdraws the hike.”

He, however, added, “But this morning the situation has changed”. The Trinamul leader was apparently referring to party chief Mamata Banerjee’s demand to replace Mr Trivedi with minister of state for shipping Mukul Roy.

“Our priority is complete rollback. How the government does it, only they have to decide. They can do it after the discussion on the rail budget or before that,” said Mr Bandyopadhyay.

In a clear indication that Mr Trivedi may not hold on to his position as the Union minister, Mr Bandyopadhyay replied, “It is a closed chapter,” when asked about the fate of the Railways minister.

The TMC leaders maintained that the passage of the Rail budget is not an issue, as there had been a precedence when Ms Mamata Banerjee had introduced the Budget during the NDA government and after her resignation it was passed when Nitish Kumar had become the new Railways minister.

“I only hope that the rollback will be announced by a new Minister,” stated Mr Bandyopadhyay. He added that the discussion on the Rail budget would now be taken up next week. “It has been deferred. This shows the government is also taking its time,” he added.

The TMC leader also claimed that the Congress has also agreed to the principle that in a coalition, the parties send names of those who are to be inducted into the Council of Ministers or change the names.