Mamata to protest better than CPM

KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday threatened to unleash a state-wide agitation to protest the rise in prices of petrol and diesel, alleging that the Congress-led UPA government had increased the prices in collusion with the CPM.

“If the CPM really wishes to check the price hike, it should withdraw support to the Congress-led government in Delhi. But I am sure the CPM will not dare to do so,” Mamata said.

“We will organise a rally in Kolkata on June 12 which will start from the maidan area and hold demonstrations in all district headquarters for a week from June 14,” Mamata told reporters on Tuesday.

She went on to describe CPM’s token protest against the price hike as a “lip service” and alleged that the UPA government had consulted the CPM before finalising its decision to increase price of petrol and diesel.

“Congress-led UPA government is ruling the country with active support from the CPM and I have no doubt that all Left parties were consulted before the price hike,” alleged the Trinamool leader. “During the five-year regime of the BJP-led NDA government, petrol and diesel prices were increased on four different occasions.

But the government had also reduced the prices on five different occasions in tune with the fall in international oil prices. But the Congress-led government has never decreased the prices of petrol and diesel,” Mamata alleged.

According to her, “the price of a litre of petrol was Rs 23.99 when BJP-led NDA government came to power. Now a litre of petrol costs Rs 51.07.”

which is more than double the rates during NDA’s regime. And the CPM which is supporting the Congress government is sitting idle.” Ms Banerjee conveniently did not mention that the price of oil in the international market has been going up steadily ever since hurricanes devastated rigs in the US last year.

“The CPM will not go for any movement against the hike as there is no election in West Bengal right now. But we will have to protest against the hike and we will have to organise demonstrations,” warned the Trinamool Congress supremo.

Meanwhile, the CPM central committee will meet for three days at Hyderabad from June 8 to address among others issues, the hike in prices of petrol and diesel. According to sources, the party will also examine the UPA government’s compulsions in raising petrol and diesel prices.

The CPM, it is learnt, is unhappy with the Centre’s decision, but will also consider external and internal reasons that triggered the central decision. Earlier, the party had opposed such a move to increase oil prices.

When contacted, CPM state secretary and polit bureau member Biman Bose said: “The activists have already organised protest demonstrations in different parts of the city. We will observe a protest day on June 13 throughout the country to oppose the hike in prices.”

Mr Bose also assured that there was no immediate possibility of any hike in transport fares in West Bengal. “I have discussed the issue with the transport minister Subhas Chakraborty and the government is not considering any proposal to hike transport fares in view of the recent hike in prices of petrol and diesel,” Mr Bose said.