Trinamool might bring no-trust vote against govt: Mamata

8220;We also don8217;t want this government. If need be,we are ready for bringing a no-confidence motion against this government,8221; the West Bengal Chief Minister said while launching an all-out attack on the Congress-led UPA government. Trinamool Congress,which has withdrawn support to the government,has 19 MPs in Lok Sabha.

Banerjee,whose party organised the protest against FDI in retail,diesel price hike and LPG cap,said she could also bring a resolution against these decisions.

8220;I have heard that elections will happen in March. I am ready for a resolution,8221; she said.

She also appealed to other political parties not to support the government and asked them to support her party8217;s resolution against the recent decisions on FDI and other issues.

8220;I am ready to work with other parties to bring a resolution against the government in the next session of Parliament8230; I would request other political parties not to support this government,8221; she said.

Accusing the UPA government of acting against the interests of the common man,Banerjee said her party will campaign across the country from next month.

As part of this plan,she announced that TMC will hold a 48-hour dharna on November 19 and 20 in Delhi. She,however,said later that since these dates coincided with the festival of 8216;Chhat Puja8217;,she accordingly had decided to shift the proposed agitation to November 22 and 23.

She said as part of its nation-wide programme,TMC will organise such dharnas at different places across the country.

Terming the government as 8220;vindictive8221;,Banerjee accused it of misusing CBI to target its opponents.

8220;I want to caution everyone here. The central government is very vindictive. It will do so many things against us. If people protest,they use CBI to threaten them,8221; she said.

8220;I am not afraid of anything. I am not afraid of going to jail or dying. I have faced bullets but even then I work on roads and in the sun among the common people,8221; she said.

Taking a jibe at the central government,she said,8221;Why are you so angry if I have come to Delhi? Is Delhi out of India? If you are so angry,we will bring ice next time. But that too will be for common man only.8221;

She claimed that the decision to implement FDI in multi-brand retail has been taken only to benefit American multinational retail corporation such as Walmart.

8220;In the U,S it is mandatory for Walmart to do 70 per cent procurement from local companies. But our government even waived off the clause for 30 per cent local procurement. It is only to benefit the companies like Walmart,8221; she said.

She also asked the retailers to stage protests in the country and ensure that the FDI in retail is not implemented.

The TMC chief also spoke against the government8217;s decision to make mandatory the installation of digital set-top boxes for TV viewing in the metros.

8220;What was the need for this decision. Don8217;t they government want the poor people to watch cable TV,8221; Mamata asked.

Accusing the central government of indulging in corrupt activities,she said,8221;It was our duty to save the government. But the bigger duty is to save the country8230;We cannot be with a corrupt government.8221;

She also questioned the method of functioning of the central government.

Khurshid refutes Mamata8217;s charge on FDI issue

Rubbishing Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee8217;s charge that states were not consulted before introducing FDI in multi-brand retail,Law Minister Salman Khurshid today said the Centre continues to accommodate the concerns of various stakeholders.

8220;It8217;s a bit unfair to say that we have not been sensitive to their concerns,that we have not tried to reach out to them. We have. Even today we are accommodating concerns,8221; he said.

He was responding to a question on the claim of the West Bengal Chief Minister that government had not consulted states on the issue of FDI.

Khurshid said the Cabinet decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail was an enabling provision and not binding on states. 8220;If they wish,they can implement it,if they don8217;t they are free not to,8221; he said.

He said the government had reached a point where it could not delay the reforms any further. 8220;So we have taken a decision,8221; he said.

To a poser on UPA ally DMK8217;s decision to support a resolution in Parliament against FDI,Khurshid said the leadership will talk to the allies. 8220;We should be patient8230; let us reach the stage,8221; he said.

Mamata should evolve from street-fighter to statesman: Congress

Under fresh attack from Mamata Banerjee on FDI in multi-brand retail,Congress today advised her to 8220;evolve from a street fighter to a statesman8221; pointing to 8216;divergence8217; in Trinamool Congress8217; stand.

8220;There comes a time in the life of every political party and politician when you have to evolve from an agitator to an administrator8230;from a street fighter to a statesman. These are personal decisions and a matter of self introspection. We want to leave to her only this very small suggestion,8221;party spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters here.

Tewari caveated his response by saying Congress has 8220;great personal regard8221; for the West Bengal Chief Minister and the political struggle she had waged.

The Congress spokesperson was reacting to a volley of questions on Banerjee8217;s agitation against FDI in retail and price rise in the national capital during which she also indicated that her party may bring a 8216;no- confidence motion8217; against it in the next session of parliament.

She also appealed to various political parties to support it. At a protest rally at Jantar Mantar here,which was attended by NDA convenor Sharad Yadav,Banerjee launched an all-out attack on the Congress-led UPA government.

The Congress spokesperson,however,made light of her opposition to FDI and the hike in diesel prices alleging the West Bengal Chief Minister makes one statement in Delhi and says something else in Kolkta.

8220;She Banerjeeis opposing FDI and diesel hike in New Delhi but in West Bengal it is her government which had increased the power tariff,8221; Tewari said.