Traders body backs Mamata protest

The traders realise that Mamata is going all out in raising political opposition to FDI in retail,hence they want to partner with TMC in the demonstration.

Realising that Mamata Banerjee is the most vociferous among political heavyweights opposing FDI in retail right now,the Confederation of All India Traders CAIT,the countrys largest umbrella body of traders generally seen as a BJP-backed outfit has written to the West Bengal Chief Minister seeking her permission to join her dharna on the issue,scheduled on October 1 in New Delhi.

The traders realise that Mamata is going all out in raising political opposition to FDI in retail,hence they want to partner with TMC in the demonstration. While the TMC has no political association with the BJP or its affiliates,the traders said their call to Mamata was apolitical.

In a letter to Mamata written on Tuesday,CAIT general secretary Praveen Khandelwal wrote: We express our solidarity with you and will be inclined to join the dharna. We shall be grateful if you depute any of your party functionaries to coordinate with us.

Starting with Delhi,Mamata has decided to tour various states to gather support against FDI and price rise. We want all political and apolitical forces against FDI to unite and build pressure on the government. Mamata is leading the opposition across the country,so we want to help her, Khandelwal said.

The TMC,however,has not yet sought permission from the Delhi Police to stage the dharna.TMC general secretary Mukul Roy said that permission will not be an issue. We will get the permission,it is just a formality, Roy said. We welcome traders or anyone willing to join us in the dharna, he said.

CM meets Governor,fuels rejig talks

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and some of her party leaders met Governor M K Narayanan on Tuesday night and held a meeting with him for nearly 50 minutes. Mamatas meeting with Narayanan fulled speculation about a possible Cabinet reshuffle. Though the agenda of the meeting was not disclosed,Mamata is thought to have gone to seek the Governors appointment for the swearing in of the ministers who would fill up the six berths vacated by Congress ministers last week.