Mamata Banerjee for all-party meeting to defuse Parliament deadlock

NEW DELHI: Amid continuing standoff between the government and Opposition in Parliament, key UPA ally Trinamool Congress today suggested that an all-party meeting should be called to defuse the crisis, saying the Opposition needs to be taken taken into confidence over the issue.

TMC chief Mamata Banerjee said the Opposition has a "prerogative" to raise issues but indicated that it was for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to decide whether or not to accept the demand for his resignation.

"Meeting of all-political parties is very nuch needed to resolve the issue. On what format Opposition wants discussion must be discussed with them. We must take Opposition into confidence. There are so many big issues and it can be sorted out through talks, negotiation and discussion," Mamata told reporters when asked about the way forward to resolve the current impasse in Parliament.

Parliament remains deadlocked for the third consecutive day with the main Opposition BJP unrelenting on its demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over CAG report citing irregularities in coal block allocations.

The Trinamool chief said, "Parliament is a foundation of democratic system. Our view is that if any issue or scandal is raised then there must be full debate on it. Opposition must raise the issue as it is their prerogative. It is democracy and it is their prerogative to raise the issue," Mamata told reporters here.

On the demand for PM's resignation, she said "Opposition parties can raise it, it is their prerogative to raise. If I ask you to resign right now will you resign. It depends upon you."

Mamata, who met Finance Minister P Chidambaram, is slated to meet Prime Minister today.