Congress downplays TMC walkout in LS, DMK threat

Congress today sought to put all its allies in good humour downplaying Trinamool Congress walkout in the Lok Sabha over NCTC issue and the threat by DMK to pull out of the government on the Sri Lankan Tamil problem.

Will Congress Party gain by pandering to allies wishes?

The AICC also signalled warming of ties with Samajwadi Party and chose to go soft on historysheeter Raja Bhaiyya's induction into Akhilesh Yadav's Cabinet in Uttar Pradesh.

Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi also sounded triumphant over the Opposition's amendment on NCTC failing in Lok Sabha saying the voice of people shouting from rooftop about instability of the government stands defeated.

"Trinamool Congress has clarified that they as a party absented themselves from the vote. It is wrong to suggest words like boycott or walkout. They have made it clear that while they may not agree with some particular policies, they do not want to disagree with the government. After what TMC has said, I do not think there is any need for Congress to come out with any other response," Singhvi told reporters.

Earlier BJP leader Sushma Swaraj had said the government's majority claim has collapsed as the division on the NCTC showed that there were 227 votes in favour of the government, which was 45 less than the majority.

Singhvi also refused to see any contradiction in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's stand on Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi's exit under Trinamool's pressure.

"Prime Minister has said something for an outgoing colleague, who himself had tendered resignation. All that he said was as part of normal civilised conduct. He regretted a colleague's departure.... As far as these two dimensions are concerned, neither Congress nor Trinamool can have any objection to it," Singhvi said.

Amid speculation of SP joining the UPA government, Singhvi used comments sparingly when asked about Raja Bhaiyya's induction into that party and explained the party's earlier attack on alleged goondaism during SP's rule as reference to the "previous regime".

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