Mamata warns Congress: Rollback oil price or Trinamool quits Cabinet

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress party leader Mamata Banerjee today slammed the Centre for 11 fuel price hikes in an equal number of months and said that she did not mind pulling out of the Union Cabinet for the sake of the people. The West Bengal chief minister said, “Congress may be the single largest party at the Centre but it does not not have a majority. It is dependent on our party and other party like the NCP. But in West Bengal we have two-third majority and can run state alone.” [caption id=“attachment_123645” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The Bengal Chief Minister delivered a strict ultimatum to the Centre - PTI”]  [/caption] Taking on the UPA government of which the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is a major alliance partner, Banerjee said, “We were not consulted before the price rise. As an alliance partner we have tolerated a lot so far and adjusted. " Adding that the TMC has one Cabinet minister and six minister of states in the Central government, the chief minister said, “We cannot accept burden on the people for a ministerial berth. Political differences can be solved politically but not at the cost of the people.” “No one listens to us the Centre. (Minister of State for Railways) Mukul Roy could not reach (Finance Minister) Pranab Mukherjee over the phone to express the party’s displeasure. But we have conveyed our grievances to Congress ministers Jairam Ramesh and Anand Sharma,” she added. Banerjee informed the press meet that both the ministers expressed helplessness in this regard. There is no co-ordination among alliance partners in the Centre,” she said. The West Bengal chief minister also said that the timing and decision of the hike was bad because the prime minister is abroad. The prime minister is in France attending the G20 Summit. “When the international oil prices goes up the government promptly hikes the price here but it is not vice-versa. (Petroleum Minister) Jaipal Reddy announced that the diesel and LPG prices would go up. But does he realise that the increase in LPG price by Rs 400 per cylinder would finish the common man?” Banerjee asked. A costlier LPG cylinder would result in no savings for households, the West Bengal chief minister said. She said her party would seek an appointment with the prime minister after his return and convey the party’s displeasure.