BSP MP accuses Govt of coercion through CBI

A Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP on Tuesday accused the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government of issuing threats through the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to coerce him into voting for the government.

Brajesh Pathak, the BSP MP from Unnao in Uttar Pradesh, alleged that on Tuesday morning, CBI officials came to his house and said if he didn't vote in favour of the government, a case would be filed against him.

As soon as he made the charge, a united opposition, including Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Basudev Acharya, stood up to demand action.

In the din that followed, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Gurudas Dasgupta said as a complaint had been made in the house, it should take "cognisance of the matter".

"The house should take suo motu action. This is a serious implication. It has nothing to do with the vote. I want the house to take cognisance and set up a house committee here and now," he said.

The BSP had earlier announced that it would go against the UPA government in the trust vote on Tuesday.

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said he would consider the demand and assured the MP that he would be protected, so he should vote in the confidence motion according to his conscience.