New Delhi/Kolkata:
Like much of the country, an aggressive opposition today asked in Parliament if Dinesh Trivedi is still the country's Railways Minister. Yes, says the government, acknowledging that Mr Trivedi has not resigned yet. But the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee also acknowledged that the Prime Minister has received a letter from Mr Trivedi's boss, Mamata Banerjee, asking for his removal. Dr Manmohan Singh was non-committal despite the opposition's demands for an explanation. "If the situation arises, we will consider it," he told reporters.
Mr Trivedi was in the House, and was seen smiling. He has reportedly defied Ms Banerjee's instructions to attend Parliament today.
Mr Trivedi has provoked the wrath of Ms Banerjee because he allegedly did not consult her about the hike in passenger fares that he announced in his Railways Budget yesterday- the first in nine years. Ms Banerjee wants a rollback in those fares, at least for the cheap tickets that are normally bought by the aam admi or common man.
Ms Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is a key member of the government with 19 Lok Sabha MPs. Its leaders today said in Parliament that they remain committed to the ruling coalition, the lone piece of good news this morning for the Congress. Trinamool leader Sudip Bandhopadhyay also told the Lok Sabha, "We have not asked for Dinesh Trivedi's resignation." Sources say this was meant to indicate that the party will not be content with Mr Trivedi resigning, it wants him to be fired.
But the opposition pointed out that the drama over Mr Trivedi is an unprecedented political crisis. "Is he the Railways Minister and is the budget he presented yesterday alive or dead?" asked the BJP's Sushma Swaraj. Other leaders pointed out that even as Parliament was discussing Mr Trivedi's status, MPs from his party were on a dharna outside against the minister and the new fares he announced in his Railways Budget yesterday. This is a theatre of the absurd," said the BJP's Arun Jaitley
This morning, sources said that the Congress had given in to Ms Banerjee's two big demands: that Mr Trivedi would be replaced by her close confidante Mukul Roy as Railways Minister, and that the increased fares would be rolled back, at least for the cheaper tickets. However, Mr Mukherjee has urged Ms Banerjee to wait for these changes till after the union budget is presented tomorrow. But Ms Banerjee is not known for compromises. So her party members have begun a protest at parliament, demanding that the hike in passenger fares be reversed. They also want a financial package from the centre for West Bengal, which is seeped in debt. Among the Trinamool Congress leaders on "strike" at Parliament is the man tipped to be the next Railways Minister, Mr Roy.
Even as that drama continues, Ms Banerjee is needling the Congress on another front. A group of MPs from her party will meet the Prime Minister today. "We will convey we are upset with the NCTC," said Sudip Bandhopadhyay, who will be among them. He is also a minister from Ms Banerjee's party, the Trinamool Congress.
The NCTC refers to the new National Counter Terror Centre. Ms Banerjee, who heads the Trinamool Congress and the Bengal government, has captained a group of ten chief ministers who have objected to the NCTC, forcing a delay in its commissioning. Non-Congress states say the anti-terror hub has powers that over-ride those of state governments on law and order, and that violates the federal structure of the country.
Ms Banerjee amplified her opposition to the NCTC by moving amendments to the vote of thank to the President's address. Earlier this week, President Pratibha Patil outlined for parliament the agenda of the government. Ms Banerjee wants the term "NCTC" to be deleted from that address. The BJP has filed similar amendments. What that means is that the BJP will push for a vote. And Ms Banerjee's MPs may find themselves voting alongside the opposition and against the government that they belong to. When asked if that's likely, Mr Bandhopadhyay said, "We will talk when the cup of tea comes to my lip."