Opposition unity' takes a hit as CPI(M) to skip Congress meet

Kolkata: Citing lack of coordination and consultation among the opposition parties over anti-demonetisation issue, the CPI(M) on Monday decided to stay away from the meeting which is being convened by the Congress in Delhi on Tuesday. This was announced by CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury who is in the city to attend party’s two-day state committee meeting. Alimuddin Street sources said the real reason for CPI(M) leaders’ absence from the opposition leaders’ meeting against demonetisation was that they did not wish to share stage with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee who left for Delhi on Monday afternoon and is likely to attend the meeting.

“We have decided to stay away from the meeting of opposition parties convened by the Congress because there has been no proper consultation and coordination among the parties. Most of the parties were neither consulted nor informed about what will be the agenda of the meeting. Several opposition parties have reservation about the way the meeting has been convened,” Mr Yechury said.

According to him, he had received a call from the Congress leadership few days back inviting him to the meeting on December 27. “But when I wanted to know what will be the agenda of the meeting, plan of action and whether all opposition parties have been called, I did not receive any answer,” he added.  

When asked whether CPI(M) was walking out of the meeting and the press conference because of the presence of Ms Banerjee, Mr Yechury said, “No. We are not going because of lack of coordination and consultation. Had Trinamul Congress been the reason then we would have stayed away from the protests outside Parliament where TMC was also present.”

He, however, did not give a satisfactory reply on why CPI(M) was lagging behind TMC in terms of organising protest movements on the demonetisation issue. “We have not stopped organising such movements. It is the media in West Bengal which is not reporting it,” Mr Yechury said.

The party politburo member also wondered why only the chief minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee was invited to the press conference and why chief ministers of Tripura, Bihar, and the NCP leadership were not properly consulted. “Why are you only inviting chief minister of West Bengal and not calling CMs of Bihar, Tripura and other states which have non-BJP governments?” he asked.