Sting video: Trinamool Congress not to seek explanation from MPs

NEW DELHI: The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress has decided to brazen out the controversy over a sting operation that purportedly showed party MPs accepting bribes. It will not seek clarification ostensibly on the grounds that the party did not want to be "distracted by a smear campaign" in the middle of the state assembly elections.

"We are busy as West Bengal goes to polls in 19 days. We are not going to be distracted by a smear campaign. There is no question of asking MPs to explain (while they are busy in election work)," Rajya Sabha leader of the party Derek O’Brien said in response to a query whether Trinamool would seek explanation from MPs on the sting.

O’Brien tried to counter the accusations against his party by giving notice to an adjournment motion, under Rule 267 of the Rajya Sabha, for a discussion on the alleged use of black money from abroad to influence assembly) elections, on the last day before the budget session goes into recess. "Black money is being used for (political) blackmail. This is part of a political smear campaign," O’Brien asserted.

The Trinamool defended itself by calling the attack as a political conspiracy ahead of the polls. "I think, the matter should not have been raised at all. If a member had a complaint, he should have written to you and you could have given a decision. But I want to say that this is part of a political conspiracy before the West Bengal elections, where CPM, Congress and BJP, those raising the issue, are destined to lose," Trinamool leader Saugata Roy said in the Lok Sabha after CPM’s Mohammed Salim, BJP’s SS Ahluwalia and Congress’ Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury raised the issue during Zero Hour.