- Opposition leaders walked out over NCPI's participation in the all-party meeting
- About 20 Trinamool rebel MPs merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India
- Opposition questioned NCPI's inclusion as its merger lacks official approval
Opposition leaders walked out of a customary all-party meeting today, ahead of the Monsoon Session, in a symbolic protest over the participation of a little-known outfit that now comprises a big chunk of the Trinamool rebel MPs. Moments later, they returned to the table.
About 20-odd rebel lawmakers from Mamata Banerjee's party had merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) in June. This overnight rise of the NCPI at the cost of the Trinamool did not go down well with the opposition, as it found its voice being stifled in the temple of democracy.
The opposition questioned how the NCPI could be part of the all-party meeting, stressing that their merger has not been approved. "Our concern is that an unrecognised party, one whose name does not appear on the (parliament) website, has been called to the meeting," Trinamool MP Saugata Roy told NDTV.
The Sansad website still shows the 20-odd rebel MPs who had joined the NCPI as members of the Trinamool.
"All Opposition parties staged a walkout from the All-Party meeting for a few minutes. This was a mark of protest against the decision of the Modi Govt to invite the NCPI that is a parking place for 20 'rebel' TMC MPs when a final decision is still pending with the Speaker," said the Congress's media in-charge.
The Congress's Pramod Tiwari, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, described the walkout as a "symbolic boycott" against the NCPI being invited to the meeting.
"Our biggest issue remains the Ram temple donation scam. We have raised eight-nine issues. This includes the NEET paper leak, agriculture, and E20 blend in petrol. We will oppose delimitation," he added.
Responding to the opposition protest, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said it is the government's duty to invite everyone and that they could not ignore the NCPI since they have already sought recognition from the Speaker.
Lok Sabha MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, leader of the NCPI bloc, has thanked the parliamentary affairs minister for allowing them to be part of the all-party meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Asked when their merger with NCPI will be approved, she told NDTV, "Such a decision takes time. We will be submitting all the required papers to the Speaker." She also described the allotment of seats to her faction away from the Trinamool as a "positive" move by the government.
