NEW DELHI: With Trinamool Congress putting a spoke in the wheel of the Central govt on more than one occasion, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal feels “clear mandate” is needed to bring an element of certainty to policies. “We are a coalition govt. We do not have majority in Parliament. We have ideologies, which are disparate. We have to cobble up a govt to give some direction to the nation. “What we need is a clear mandate ultimately by the people of India to bring the element of certainty to policies and ideologies, he told Karan Thapar on CNBC’s “India Tonight” programme.
Trinamool Congress, headed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on two occasions put the Central govt on the back foot forcing it to give up on pushing ahead with the decision on FDI in retail or the Lokpal Bill.
The Congress ally had opposed the FDI decision strongly and had objected to the provisions relating to Lokayukta in the Lokpal Bill along with other Opposition parties that the govt had to put on hold both the measures for lack of numbers. Sibal, however, said that Mamata’s support to Lokpal Bill would not have made a difference as the govt did not have numbers in the Rajya Sabha and the Opposition decided to move the amendments only after realising it.
Asked about the Trinamool Congress supremo’s role, he said, “even if she would have been on our side, we would not have been able to pass the bill.” On whether it was not the UPA ally that made the government roll back its decision on brining FDI in retail, Sibal replied in negative saying it was reversed as “Parliament became dysfunctional” for which he put the blame on the Opposition, including BJP. His remarks came when asked whether the Prime Minister has the spirit to carry on amid the odds stacked against the government and with the resistance to the govt’s decisions coming not only from Opposition but also allies. (PTI)