New Delhi: Hours before West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee meets her party leaders to make what she described over the weekend as ‘hard decisions,’ her party has listed three plans of action that it is considering in retaliation for the government’s decision to hike diesel prices, limit subsidised cooking gas cylinders for families, and open up the country’s retail sector to foreign investors.
“There could be a pull-out of ministers from the UPA, there could be withdrawal of support from the government or ministers will not attend office,” said Sultan Ahmed, a leader of the party. Mr Ahmed is one of six ministers from Ms Banerjee’s party in Delhi.
The party is likely to announce its decision on Tuesday.
To pacify her, the government may increase the number of subsidised cooking gas cylinders that households are entitled to.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi held consultations with party leaders as the 72-hour deadline set by Trinamool Congress ended on Monday amid indications a worst case situation could be a pull out of Union ministers by the key ally.
Moily down plays Mamata threat: Meanwhile, Union Power Minister Veerappa Moily on Monday downplayed the threat of Trinamool Congress leader and defended FDI in multi-brand retail and diesel price hike, our reporter adds
Speaking to reporters at Congress Bhavan in Shillong Moily said, “In argumentative India, issues can be raised by any one and we also need to listen to them”.
However, the Minister said that FDI in multi-brand retail is in the interest of the Country as it will help the consumers to get things at a cheaper rate and accelerate growth. “The farmers will also be the beneficiaries of such a decision”, he added.
On the issue of diesel price hike and the limited use of LPG cylinders, the Union Minister said that the decision was based on the demand and supply and also looking at the domestic consumption.
The NDA and the left parties have already called a nation wide strike on September 20 in protest against FDI in retail sector, diesel price hike and the restriction in the use of LPG cylinders. (With inputs from agencies)