Rail budget row: Govt short of number, says BJP

The political storm in the United Progressive Alliance government over Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi issue on Thursday gave an opportunity to the Bharatiya Janata Party to charge that the government is short of number and is shying away from facing the amendments to the President's address in Parliament.

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj told the media that Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal had agreed that the debate on the motion of thanks to the President's address be completed on Thursday.

The amendments were to be taken up then and the address put to vote. However, the issue was deferred till Monday.

 Swaraj alleged the government did not even have the basic courtesy to inform the Opposition and kept it in the dark about the change in plans.

"This government is in a crisis. It is short of numbers and is buying time. They are running away as they do not have a majority. If the government does not have the numbers to pass the motion of thanks with amendments, then what kind of a government is this," Swaraj said.

She said the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance are firm on moving the amendments, especially on the issue of the National Counterterrorism Center and "attack" on federal structure by the Centre.

Asked if the BJP saw prospects of a mid-term poll and if it was ready to face one, Swaraj said, "if mid-term polls are held, we are ready. It is not a question of wanting or not wanting. The way this government is functioning, the situation of governance is not there."

Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu said "we are watching the developments with amusement. We are ready for any term."

For Rediff Realtime News on Dinesh Trivedi, click here