Mamata posts on Facebook 'UPA saviours exposed'

New Delhi: The war over FDI in retail reached Parliament resulting in a stormy start to the Winter Session on Thursday. But in a setback for the Trinamool Congress, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar rejected its notice for a no-confidence motion as it lacked the support of 50 MPs as required.

After the rejection of the no-confidence motion, Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee's posted on social networking website Facebook saying, "We knew our limitation was the strength, and ultimately, that is why the motion was rejected. But we thought that other members who are so vociferous against the FDI in retail and other sectors, and various other anti-people decisions of the UPA government, will join the no-confidence move against the government. Unfortunately, they did not come forward for the cause of the people, citing various excuses."

"Though the no-confidence motion was rejected on the floor of the House due to numbers, but the 'No Trust' against the UPA government is not rejected by the people of the country. Now, you see the saviours of the government are exposed," Mamata said. Mamata said her party moved the motion because of its commitment to the people of the country, knowing fully well that Trinamool Congress lacked the numbers to get it admitted.

"We thought other members who are so vociferous against FDI in retail and other sectors, and have opposed the anti-people decisions of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, would join the 'No-Trust' move against the government," Banerjee said.

"Unfortunately, they did not come forward for the cause of the people, citing various excuses," the Trinamool supremo said, explaining why the motion did not get admitted in the house. Sudip Bandopadhyay of the Trinamool had earlier Thursday sought leave of the house to move the motion.

Speaker Meira Kumar asked the members to stand if they supported the motion. Other than the 18 Trinamool Congress MPs, only Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MPs (14 members) stood in support. Dissident Trinamool MP Kabir Suman was not present. A no-confidence motion needs the support of at least 50 members to be admitted and moved in the lower house of parliament.

With additional information from IANS