TMC accuses BJP of turning EC into party office, demands SC-monitored LS polls
TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien accused the ruling party of manipulating the electoral landscape ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Trinamool Congress, which is angry over the arrest of its two MPs by CBI in connection with the chitfund scam, will not attend Parliament on February 1 when the Budget is presented, citing Saraswati Puja on that day as the reason.
Trinamool 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 on Tuesday.
"Trinamool will not attend Parliament on February 1 because of Saraswati Puja which is a big day in Bengal," party leader and MP Derek O'Brien said.
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He said that on Saraswati Puja, day, 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 Monday evening's all-party meeting, he said this was because Trinamool chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had called a meeting of party MPs for Monday "10 days back".
Asked whether the party was "boycotting" these proceedings or just skipping, he replied, "It is open for your interpretation".
Trinamool Congress 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.
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