Mamata warns of ‘drastic step’ if there is no rollback

“We do not want an election now,but there is a limit to tolerance. Despite being the second largest party in the UPA,we have just one ministry. But the ministry hardly matters to me. Do not force me to take a drastic step,” she warned.

“Before Lok Sabha and Assembly elections,we had clearly stated in our manifesto that we are against FDI in retail trade,hiking prices of petrol and diesel and putting pension fund in share market. We cannot back out from the manifesto. I am confident that people will not hold us responsible if a mid-term poll is held,” said Mamata,adding that the cap on supply of subsidised LPG cylinders should be increased to 24 per household.

Accusing the Centre of trying to sell “everything from the sky to earth”,she said: “They allowed FDI in every sector including civil aviation and cable… We will wait for three days. If the decisions are not reconsidered by Monday,we will be compelled to take strong steps.

“They (the Congress) should remember that nobody enjoys absolute majority at the Centre unlike in West Bengal where we have absolute majority,” said Mamata.

“Yes,we need reforms. But reform does not mean to sell out everything to satisfy some sections of individuals. In a democratic set-up,reforms must reach the poor and common people and the beauty of democracy lies in realising its responsibility towards the common people,” she said in a post on her Facebook account.

“A series of unilateral and anti-people decisions might help in raising Sensex points only for the time being. I agree that Sensex must be stable,but at the same time,policy and planning should not be used to impose back-breaking burden on the common people. If black money is brought back home from abroad and used for development purposes,then Sensex will grow in an unparalleled manner,” she added in her post.

“The Centre says there are options available to the state government on FDI… If the Centre takes a decision it is applied everywhere. Do not try to fool us. You have given me an option but I am refusing it. In response,I am giving you an option: bring back the black money stashed in foreign banks,” she said.

‘Fight FDI decision’

KOLKATA: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is reported to have advised West Bengal’s retail traders to “unite” to fight against FDI in retail. Source said she told the retailers to “take to the streets” against the Centre’s decision.