Mamata Banerjee-led TMC to boycott first two days of Union Budget over protest against demonetisation

On Monday, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) released a statement saying that they will not be present in Parliament for the first two days of Budget session. Citing their protest against demonetisation as the reason, TMC leaders Derek O’Brien, Kalyan Banerjee, Saugata Roy, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy and Dinesh Trivedi issued the statement.

The party also cited protest over the arrest of its two MPs by the CBI in connection with the chit fund scam. The statement read, “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 the CBI and abusing the power.”

All India Trinamool Congress releases statement,says will not be present in parliament for first two days of #BudgetSession pic.twitter.com/PfqONNC88R

— ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2017

The TMC will also not attend the all-party meeting convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Monday evening ahead of the Budget session of Parliament beginning Tuesday. “Trinamool will not attend Parliament on 1 February because of Saraswati Puja which is a big day in Bengal,” party leader and MP Derek O’Brien told PTI earlier.

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.

Budget will be presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday. About not attending all-party meeting, he said this was because Trinamool supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee 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”. The TMC has been angry over the arrest of its two MPs Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Tapas Pal by CBI in connection with the Rose Valley Group chit fund scam.

With inputs from PTI