CPM making Cong,Trinamool fight: Mamata

The Opposition CPM members stood up to protest the CM’s remarks with members from the treasury benches shouting back. The CM tried to control the angry TMC and Congress members and said “the CPM members will try to provoke the treasury bench members but they should not fall into the trap”.

While trying to keep the House in order,the CM did not spare the Congress either and took digs at the UPA government and its presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee.

When several CPM members asked what was the state government doing to check the rising prices of essential commodities,Mamata said: “It is your friend who is responsible. Go and ask your friend why prices are rising.”

Earlier,during the question hour,the Chief Minister suggested that an all-party delegation should be formed that could go to Delhi and plead for a three-year moratorium on payment of interests on the state loan of over Rs 2 lakh crore. She said the state used to have a loan repayment burden of Rs 21,000 crore every month,which has now gone up to Rs 25,000 crore. “Where will the fund for development come from if the state has to pay such a huge amount?” she asked.

The Chief Minister made it clear that she was not going to give up her fight for a moratorium on interest payment and is ready to take the battle to Delhi.

She managed to elicit a positive response from the Opposition CPM on the issue with Surya Kanta Mishra pointing out that the Left Front government had placed similar demands before the Centre but in vain. The party,therefore,has no reservations in joining the all-party delegation but it would first like to scrutinise the proposed draft in this regard,Mishra added.

Congress Legislature Party leader Md Shorab pointed out that he had written to the CM on this issue but she did not respond.

At this,the CM she had held meeting with the Prime Minister seven-eight times and with the union finance minister no less than a dozen times. Unfortunately,the West Bengal Pradesh Congress,she said,has no connection with the high command. “You have no communication with the Centre,” she said.