Trinamool, BSP join chorus

Mamata Banerjee, chief of Trinamool Congress, the second largest UPA ally, has virtually thrown in her lot with the BJP in opposing the Communal Violence Bill, terming it anti-federal and controversial. While NDA-ruled states’ objections were known, TMC’s “serious objections” at this juncture have spelt trouble for an already beleaguered Congress. Mayawati-led BSP has also joined the chorus in opposing the Bill. West Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra, who represented the state at the National Integration Council meeting in the capital on Saturday, said, “The Bill will tantamount to a direct intervention in the constitutional functioning of the state government, undermining the very principle of federalism.”

Making common cause with “other states” who have expressed “similar apprehensions”, the TMC indicted the central government for acting unilaterally without taking “state governments and all political parties” on board. Mitra said “the bill needed greater consultations and broader discussions” and hence, should not be taken up for discussion despite being on the agenda.