Trinamul Congress chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, while expressing her anger on Friday at the latest petrol price hike, also voiced her deep-rooted grievances vis-a-vis the Congress. She said that in the past two-and-a-half years, she has been given short shrift many times.
“Our party has only one Cabinet minister at the Centre. But he is not allowed to speak in Cabinet meetings by other members since they have the majority. Our party is yet to get a room in Parliament. We have tolerated a lot but we will not tolerate if the people are made to bear the burden of a price hike,” she added.
Ms Banerjee also reminded that UPA II is a coalition government. “The Congress is a national party.....But they don’t have the majority. The government has the majority with DMK, NCP and the Trinamul Congress. If we (Trinmaul Congress) withdraw the support, the government will fall. I want to continue our support to the government for its entire tenure but they will also have to give due respect to us and other partners. We don’t want to blackmail the government. I will only appeal to them to please take care of people,” she added.
Ms Banerjee said she spoke to Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh on Thursday to voice her protest. finance minister Pranab Mukher-jee had on Thursday also spoken to Trinmaul Congress general secretary and Union minister of state for shipping Mukul Roy to tell him that the Centre had no role to play in it. Ms Banerjee also apprised Union commerce minister Anand Sharma about her strong displeasure.
Responding to a specific query on this issue, Mr Sharma said: “The CM has apprised me of her concerns. We are partners in the coalition but also committed equally to work for the larger good of the country. I shall convery (her concerns) to the PM.”