UPA crisis live: FDI won't impact small traders, will benefit farmers, says PM

New Delhi: 8.00 pm: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addresses the nation on the economic reforms of the government, says the economic progress is needed to create employment for the youth.

6.10 pm Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad Yadav has ruled out the possibility of a Third Front, saying there are only "a secular front" and "a communal front". According to him, the General Elections will take place on time.

5.40 pm Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Gadkari says that they are "waiting and watching" the situation.

"We do not intend to bring down the government. But the UPA has lost the confidence of the people," said Gadkari.

5.15 pm Trinamool Congress MP Mukul Roy says though his party does not want a vote of confidence, it does want a vote on the issue of foreign direct investment (FDI).

Talking to mediapersons, the former Railways minister said that the issue should be discussed in Parliament as most of the political parties are opposing it.

He further expressed hope that the Trinamool Congress would do better in the next election.

5.09 pm The Congress core group is slated to meet at 6 pm on Friday.

5.03 pm Trinamool Congress leaders submit a letter of the withdrawal of support to the UPA government to President Pranab Mukherjee.

Addressing mediapersons outside the Rashtrapati Bhawan, TMC leader Saugata Roy said that the President had accepted their letter of withdrawal of support.

He said, "We handed over the letter of withdrawal of support to the President, who has accepted it...we did not ask the President to ask the government to prove its majority on the floor of the House."

4.31 pm Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee issues a statement saying she has a personal history of of struggle and nothing can intimidate her.

The West Bengal Chief Minister further said, "I can withstand all forms of adversity. I can leave everything, but not my 'Ma, Maati, Maanush'. We are of the people, by the people, for the people."

4.22 pm Trinamool Congress leaders reach Rashtrapati Bhawan to officially withdraw support to the UPA government at the Centre.

4.15 pm Trinamool Congress ministers in the Centre have submitted their resignations to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

According to sources, the Prime Minister told the TMC leaders, "Sorry, you had to tender resignations."

Trinamool Congress had six Union ministers. They were Railway Minister Mukul Roy (Cabinet rank) and other five ministers of state. The other ministers were: Minister of Urban Development Saugata Roy, Minister of Health and Family Welfare Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Choudhury Mohan Jatua, Minister of Tourism Sultan Ahmed and Minister of Rural Development Sisir Kumar Adhikari.

The Trinamool Congress leaders are now slated to meet President Pranab Mukherjee and officially withdraw their support to the UPA government at the Centre.

3.44 pm TMC ministers plan to stage dharna at Jantar Mantar on September 30.

3.43 pm: TMC leaders leave to meet PM at 7 RCR.

3: 10 pm: Future is ours: Sudeep Bandopadhyay.

3: 09 pm: There is no credibility left in the UPA government: TMC MP Sudeep Bandopadhyay.

2: 42 pm: Congress ministers in West Bengal to resign from the state Cabinet at 5 pm on Saturday.

1: 35 pm Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gives Trinamool Congress an appointment at 4 pm on Friday.

1:32 pm: Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy says they have an appointment with President Pranab Mukherjee at 4:30 pm.

1:15 pm: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will address the nation at 8 pm about the recent decisions on economic reforms.

Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has hinted at continuing giving outside support to the UPA saying he does not want 'communal forces' to come to power, giving the Manmohan Singh regime a reason to smile. The UPA government, which has been reduced to a minority after the Trinamool Congress decided to withdraw its support, can safely cross the half-way mark in the Lok Sabha with Samajwadi Party's support.

Mulayam indirectly made it clear that he won't support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "We are giving support to the Congress so as not to allow the communal forces to come to power," Mulayam said on Friday.

When asked about his reactions to the government's policies, Mulayam said he was against the government's policies, but wanted to keep 'criminal forces' at bay. "We are against the policies of Congress. We are not in UPA, but we support them to keep criminal forces away," Mulayam said.

The Congress is also finalising its strategy with the Trinamool Congress quitting the UPA. The Congress top brass, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party chief Sonia Gandhi, will meet on Friday evening to decide the future course of action.

A meeting of the Congress Core Group headed by Sonia Gandhi is scheduled in the evening amid reports that Trinamool Congress ministers will be sending their resignations during the day. This is the second meeting of the Congress core group which had met only two days back, a day after Mamata Banerjee announced the withdrawal of support.

Government managers are confident of the numbers even after the withdrawal of support by the 19-member Trinamool Congress, which has been the second largest constituent of the 15-party ruling alliance.

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