By IANS,
New Delhi : Agreeing there were differences of opinion with ally Trinamool Congress on the Lokpal bill, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government Friday said it will sort out all the issues.
“There is only one difference of opinion with TMC (Trinamool Congress). If there are any other differences, we will sit together and sort them out,” Home Minister P. Chidambaram told reporters.
Though the Trinamool Congress supported the Lokpal bill in the Lok Sabha, it gave 37 amendments to the draft legislation in the Rajya Sabha Dec 29 to completely delink the Lokayukta institution in states with the Lokpal office at the centre, citing reasons of federal autonomy.
During the winter session, the party also forced the government to put on hold its decision allowing 51 percent foreign equity in multi-brand retail.
Trinamool also objected to 26 percent foreign direct investment in the pension fund, again forcing the government to drop the bill.
Of late, political watchers have started labelling Trinamool Congress as the new Left in the UPA-II.