Mamata to lead TMC demonstration at Jantar Mantar over UPA's reforms

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West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee will lead a party demonstration at the Jantar Mantar here on Monday to urge the Congress-led UPA Government to withdraw its decisions relating to FDI in multi-brand retail, cap on subsidised LPG and diesel price hike.

A miffed Trinamool Congress chief had earlier on Sunday said that the demonstration was part of her party's resolve to show solidarity with the 'aam aadmi' or the common man who has been hurt by the new economic reforms announced by the Centre.

"This is not a 'dharna', but a protest rally in which Mukul Roy and our lawmakers would be participating. I have not brought anyone from West Bengal; only the locals and the party activists would participate in this protest over issues distressing common man.''

''It will start at 12 noon, although the activists will start gathering by 11 o' clock," she said.

Banerjee had earlier requested all to join her in the democratic demonstration.

"Let us fight the battle boldly and unitedly. In a democracy, people is the supreme. Our voice is the voice of the people. We must raise our voice, so that the government must reconsider," Banerjee had earlier said in a post on Facebook.

Asserting that the fight for the cause of common people continues with the help of 'Maa, Mati, Manush' throughout the country, Banerjee said: "I am thankful to all of you for supporting our persistent protest against the unethical decisions on price hike of diesel, restriction of LPG cylinders, increase in fertilizer prices and permission of FDI in retail, which are not in the interest of the common people."

"On 1st October, we, on behalf of the All India Trinamool Congress, will be organising a demonstration at Jantar Mantar at New Delhi. We all will be present to highlight these issues and request the Central Government to withdraw the anti-people decisions," she added.

The TMC, the biggest partner of the Congress Party-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, had pulled out over big-ticket economic reforms, reducing coalition to a minority government and bringing even more instability to an already volatile political landscape.

The government took some decisions earlier, including the hike in diesel price, cap the supply of subsidised LPG cylinders to six per household and approving 51 percent Foreign Direct Investment or FDI in multi-brand retail.

Trinamool Congress, which has 19 members in the Lok Sabha, withdrew support to the Congress-led UPA government and pulled out its six ministers from the government on September 21 after being disappointed with the announcement of new reforms.