TMC not to attend Parliament on Budget day to protest demonetisation, MPs arrest

Trinamool Congress is no mood to let go of its protest against Centre’s demonetisation move and will not attend Parliament on the first two days of the session beginning tomorrow, when the President's address and Budget will be presented,and also decided to skip all-party meetings. 

TMC, which is angry over the arrest of its two MPs by CBI in connection with the chitfund scam, will not attend Parliament on February 1 when the Budget is presented, citing Saraswati Puja on that day as the reason. 

The party-led by Mamata Banerjee will also not attend the all-party meeting convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan this evening ahead of the Budget session of Parliament beginning tomorrow. 

"Trinamool MPs will not be present in Parliament on the first two days of the Budget Session in protest against demonetisation which was implemented without taking Parliament into confidence, and restrictions on withdrawal limits from bank accounts which are still in force,” the party said in an official statement posted on Facebook. 

“In the ensuing session, Trinamool will, among other issues, raise the issue of the illegal arrest of its Lok Sabha leader and another MP which is a clear case of political vendetta by the ruling party at the Centre by misusing CBI and abusing its power,” the statement, issued on behalf of TMC Parliamentary Party, said. 

TMC MP Derek O'Brien said that on Saraswati Puja, day, there is a custom of keeping away from work and not even touching the tools. 

"Saraswati Puja is beyond a religious festival. It is a socio-cultural festival of Bengal," he added. 

Budget will be presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday, February 1.

About not attending this evening's all-party meeting, he said this was because Trinamool supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banshee had called a meeting of party MPs for today "10 days back". 

Asked whether the party was "boycotting" these proceedings or just skipping, he replied, "It is open for your interpretation". 

Trinamool Congress has been angry over the over the issue of demonetisation and st of its two MPs, Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Tapas Pal, by CBI in connection with the Rose Valley Group chit fund scam. 

TMC chief whip in the Lok Sabha Kalyan Banerjee today told reporters that in the ensuing session TMC will, among other things, raise the issue of the "illegal arrest" of its Lok Sabha leader Sudip Bandopadhyay and another MP Tapas Pal, alleging it "is a clear case of political vendetta by the ruling party at the centre by misusing CBI and abusing its power". 

To a question, he said that Sudip Bandopadhyay will continue to be their leader in the Lok Sabha. 

"He is our leader and will continue to be our leader", Banerjee said. 

Banerjee, however, said that senior party MP Saugata Roy has been appointed as the deputy leader in the Lok Sabha. On whether it was "boycott", he said "It is open for your interpretation". 

Earlier in the day, party leader and MP Derek O'Brien had said that Trinamool will not attend Parliament on February 1 because of Saraswati Puja "which is a big day in Bengal". 

He said that on Saraswati Puja, there is a custom of keeping away from work and not even touching the tools. 

"Saraswati Puja is beyond a religious festival. It is a socio-cultural festival of Bengal," he added. Asked whether the party was "boycotting" these proceedings or just skipping, he too replied, "It is open for your interpretation". 

To a query about TMC's coordination with other political parties, Kalyan Banerjee said, "We have one point agenda of removing Narendra Modi. We will be with those who will also work in that direction". 

Saugata Roy told reporters, "We are working together. Our party supremo has given us the direction and we will work accordingly".