DMK downsizes, BSP boycotts UPA function (Lead)
May 23rd, 2011 - 1:29 am ICT by IANS
New Delhi, May 23 (IANS) Former minister T.R.Baalu was the only DMK leader to attend Sunday’s function to mark the second anniversary of the United Progressive Alliance-II government, while the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which provided outside support, boycotted the function.
All the six ministers from the DMK, the third largest party in the UPA, skipped the function following the arrest Friday of party Rajya Sabha member and DMK supremo M.Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi in the 2G spectrum case.
However, Baalu, who was in a minister in the first UPA government and is presently the leader of the DMK parliamentary party, was in a prized place, seated next to UPA chief Sonia Gandhi.
The BSP boycotted the function to protest against the statements by Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi and his mother and party chief Sonia Gandhi rapping the Mayawati-led BSP government’s mishandling of the farmers’ agitation in Greater Noida, in which at least four people, including two policemen were killed May 7.
Rahul Gandhi had taken a group of farmers to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week. He had quoted the farmers of alleging “mass murder and rape” in Bhatta-Parsaul village - the epicentre of the farmers’ agitation.
The UPA function was attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his cabinet colleagues and other UPA leaders.
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- Campaign to spread across Uttar Pradesh: Rahul Gandhi - May 18, 2011
- Rahul's march to get feedback on land policy: Digvijay - Jul 05, 2011
- Congress defends Rahul Gandhi on Bhatta-Parsaul, BJP hits out (Intro Roundup) - May 19, 2011
- I am with you, Rahul tells farmers in Mayawati land (Second Lead) - Jul 05, 2011
- Rahul plans to address Bhatta-Parsaul farmers - Jun 30, 2011
- Withdraw cases against Bhatta farmers: Rajnath to Akhilesh - May 08, 2012
- From Bhatta Parsaul, Rahul takes forward campaign against Mayawati (Intro Roundup) - Jul 05, 2011
- Rahul Gandhi calls for uprooting Mayawati government - May 18, 2011
- Rahul halts at Rampur village - Jul 05, 2011
- Hundreds detained as Congress takes on Mayawati government (Second Lead) - May 12, 2011
- Will continue crusade to get farmers justice: Congress - May 17, 2011
- Poll results show Congress' strength: Sonia Gandhi - May 19, 2011
Tags: bahujan samaj party, bahujan samaj party bsp, cabinet colleagues, dmk leader, epicentre, general secretary, greater noida, m karunanidhi, manmohan, manmohan singh, mass murder, Mayawati, parliamentary party, party chief, prime minister manmohan, prime minister manmohan singh, progressive alliance, rahul gandhi, rajya sabha member, sonia gandhi