Cong downplays TMC staying away from both houses

Congress on Tuesday downplayed the issue of United Progressive Alliance ally Trinamool absenting itself from both houses of Parliament as the government battled opposition over NCTC with the help of Samajawadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party which did the rescue act.

"In a coalition arrangement every political party does not come from same understanding of an issue. Divergence does not essentially mean dissonance in coalition as some try to project," party spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters.

Tewari at the same time insisted that Congress treated all its allies with extreme sensitivity and utmost regard when told about TMC's allegation that it was not consulted by the government on many issues.

"The suggestion of allies are taken on every important issue. Effort is being taken to build a consensus. If consensus does not emerge on any issues, the best possible decision is taken in that eventuality. This is how a coalition government is run," he said.

To a question as to how Prime Minister Manmohan Singh agreed to Mukul Roy as railway minister as he had earlier allegedly declined the proposal and Dinesh Trivedi was made minister, Tewari said in a coalition government, the view of an ally is taken if the minister has to be from that party.

The party also dismissed BJP charges that the government brought the SP and BSP on board by holding CBI as a threat and attacked the opposition for its "double standard" on the issue of the investigation agency.

He said Samajwadi Party had been supporting the government from the very beginning and hoped that the "constructive support" given by SP and other parties will continue even in future.

Tewari said the party has been maintaining that the government should talk to Chief Minister on NCTC since they have raised certain concerns.