Cong downplays Mamata's remark on anti-FDI resolution

"The functioning of Parliament is as per rules. If anyone wants a discussion on any issue in Parliament, we welcome it", party spokesman Rashid Alvi told reporters, sidestepping questions as to how the Congress viewed the move by Banerjee whose party has just walked out of UPA.

His remarks came close on the heels of Banerjee saying that "I am ready to support a Mulayam Singh-sponsored resolution against FDI in retail in Parliament."

Banerjee's offer is aimed at forcing parties like Samajwadi Party, who are supporting UPa from outside, to make clear their political preference at the Centre.

Although Yadav has been taking an anti-FDI line, he has ruled out withdrawing support to the Centre.

On several charges made by Banerjee against the UPA dispensation including that the CBI and Income tax is being misused by the government to armtwist political parties and that the UPA regime is "of the corrupt, by the corrupt and for the corrupt", alvi only remionded her that that "till a few days back, she was with us."

On her remarks that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is not a mass leader, he said "while there is no definition of a mass leader, Manmohan Singh is the Prime Minister of the country who is respected all over the world".