Kolkata: Asserting that the stand-off with the UPA government on FDI in retail, diesel price hike and subsidised cooking gas issues has reached a point of no return, senior Trinamol Congress leader and Railway Minister Mukul Roy has said his party’s ministers have sought an appointment with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for submitting their resignations on Friday.
“Yes, we have sought an appointment with the Prime Minister at 3 pm tomorrow (Friday). We are awaiting confirmation from the PM’s office. We hope to receive it in the next few hours,” Roy said on Thursday.
He said the party was firmly sticking to its stand of withdrawing from the UPA. Asked whether the matter has reached a point of no return, Roy said: “Yes, you can say that.”
West Bengal Chief Minister Banerjee, who announced the decision to withdraw support on Tuesday, has laid down three conditions for reconsidering the issue.
She has demanded that the UPA announce a rollback of its decision allowing FDI in multi-brand retail, cut diesel prices by Rs 3-4 per litre and increase the number of subsidised cooking gas cylinders to 24 per household in a year.
Banerjee’s withdrawal of support has brought the UPA’s effective strength in the 545-seat Lok Sabha from 273 to 254, which is slightly below the half-way mark.
This would make the UPA more dependent on the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party, both of which extend outside legislative support to the regime.
The Trinamool is protesting against the UPA government’s recent decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail, raise diesel price by Rs 5 a litre and restrict the number of subsidised cooking gas cylinders to six a year per household. (IANS)