Cong warns amendment by Trinamool to Prez address can be costly

If the amendment to President speech is passed,then government has to go.

As major ally Trinamool Congress tabled an embarrassing amendment to President’s address,the Congress last night warned allies that such steps could threaten the stability of the government.

At the dinner hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to keep the flock together on crucial financial business in Parliament,Finance Minister and Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee cautioned that amendments to the President Pratibha Patil’s address or cut motions to Budget could cost the government dearly.

Highly placed sources said procedures were explained to the allies at the dinner meeting which top parliamentary leaders of Trinamool skipped and a backbencher of the party was present.

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Mukherjee said actions like the amendment tabled by Trinamool seeking deletion of a paragraph on NCTC in the President’s address could prove costly to the government,the sources said.

Asking Trinamool not to insist on the amendment and withdraw it,he said the party was part of the ruling coalition and it was not proper for it to resort to such actions.

Procedures were explained. If cut motion adopted,then…, a source said.

The Trinamool representative Ratna De Nag,on her part,said her party was not for destabilising the government and was keen on a good package for West Bengal.

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Earlier in the day,Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee tabled amendment seeking deletion of paragraph on NCTC.

Normally,amendments are tabled only by Opposition and not by ruling constituents because if they are passed,the government has to go.