Mamata Banerjee withdraws support to UPA

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, the second biggest constituent of the UPA, on Tuesday dealt a major blow to the Manmohan Singh government when it decided to withdraw its support on the issue of petroleum price hike, FDI in retail and corruption. "We are withdrawing our support. Our ministers will go to Delhi, meet the Prime Minister and tender their resignations at 3 PM," TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced after a meeting of party MPs, top leaders and office bearers. However, Banerjee added a caveat saying if the Centre rolls back the decision on FDI in multi-brand retail, raise the cap on supply of subsidised LPG to 12 cylinders and reduction of diesel hike from Rs.5 to Rs. 3 or Rs.4, then the party would reconsider the decision to withdraw support. On Tuesday night declared that Trinamool Congress would pull out of the UPA government. After a two-hour long meeting with ministers, MPs and party leaders, she said said that it was not feasible for Trinamool Congress to remain within UPA II.

At a press conference in Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee said: "We are withdrawing our support. Our six Trinamool ministers will go to Delhi, meet the Prime Minister and tender their resignations at 3 PM," TMC chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced after a meeting of party MPs, top leaders and office-bearers. "We are never being heard, so what is the use being in the Centre? I have given enough chance to the UPA II, but the Centre is only taxing the poor people. The price of petrol, diesel, fertilisers are on the rise. Even the government is putting enormous pressure on the common people by hiking the price of LPG." The Trinamool chief had wanted 12 cylinders per family at a subsidised rate, but it was not honoured. Banerjee said the FDI decision was unveiled to divert attention from the coal blocks allocation controversy involving the government. Moreover, there is no attempt by the Centre to bring back black money that is stashed abroad, she said. Mamata said that the Congress leaders had been regularly criticising her, but the Trinamool had been part of UPA II, but now it was not possible to continue with the Congress.