The Communist Party of India (Marxist) recently criticised the Trinamool Congress while calling it a “potential ally of the BJP”, for not signing an opposition memorandum that accused the government of trying to pass the Budget and Demand for Grants without discussions in the Lok Sabha.

CPI(M) leader Mohammed Salim stated, “It is the game-plan of the BJP to pass the Budget and Demands for Grants without discussion and it is being supported by its allies and some potential allies.”

The opposition parties, including the Left, Congress, RJD and NCP, submitted the memorandum to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, expressing their strong opposition to the government, and demanded her intervention to protect the rights of lawmakers.

The memorandum read, “The government is not even coming forward to settle the issue (the opposition's discontent) for a smooth functioning of the House. On the other hand, it is hell bent on passing the bill without a proper scrutiny. Therefore, we, the opposition party members, would like to express our strong protest and demand an immediate intervention from you to protect the rights of the Parliament members.”

The opposition also referred to the March 5 Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting in the memorandum, in which the government had allotted time for discussion for six ministries i.e railways, agriculture and farmers’ welfare, social justice and empowerment, health and family welfare, youth affairs and road transport and highways but the date and time for Guillotine and the Finance Bill were not mentioned which the opposition insisted, showed the “arrogance” of the government.