In an indirect attack at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on September 15 said political leaders should be more bothered about the common people rather than winning personal laurels.
Infuriated over the twin "anti-people" decisions - hike in diesel prices and nod to FDI in retail - Banerjee, whose Trinamool Congress is the United Progressive Alliance's second largest constituent, reminded the Congress not to cross the "Lakshman Rekha" (red line).
"We are not in favour of toppling the government. But they should not forget the 'Lakshman Rekha' of the alliance. We will not agree with any anti-people decisions. We have given 72-hour deadline to rethink... if you roll back, it's good. But if not, then be ready to face the consequences," she said, addressing a protest rally here.
"I don't agree with such economic reforms which are anti-people because I believe in grass root reforms which concern the masses. Leaders should stop taking decisions which help only four-five people for gaining personal laurels from handful of people. It is a matter of entire country," said Banerjee.
"Everybody should think about the common masses of the country rather than the creamy section of the society. Because creamy section makes one percent and common masses make the rest 99 percent of the population," she said.
The government Thursday announced a hike in diesel price by Rs.5 a litre and capped supply of subsidised cooking gas cylinders per family to six per year. The next day, it decided to allow up to 51 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail.
The entire industrial community has hailed Manmohan Singh's - who has often been credited as the father of economic reforms of 1991 - bold decisions to allow FDI in retail FDI and to hike diesel price.
Expressing her suspicion over the benefits of reforms reaching out to the poor and common people of the country, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee Saturday said reforms did not mean selling out everything in order to satisfy a section of individuals and the government. An infuriated Trinamool Congress leadership Friday issued a 72-hour deadline to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance regime to rethink the twin decisions of diesel price hike and foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail.
"Yes, we need reforms. But reform does not mean selling out everything to satisfy some sections of individuals. In a democratic set-up, reforms must reach up to the poor and common people and the beauty of democracy lies in realizing its responsibility towards the common people," Banerjee posted on her Facebook page.
Pointing out that developed countries have many social security schemes in order to channelize the benefits of reforms to all sections of the society, Banerjee said India doesn't have elaborate social security schemes or safety valve mechanisms for protection of the interest of common people.
"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 backbreaking burden on the common people," she posted.
Banerjee Friday said that her party was ready to take hard decisions during its parliamentary party meet Sep 18.
"If black money is unearthed in the country, and brought back home from abroad and is used for development purposes, then the Sensex will grow in an unparalleled manner," she said.
Banerjee reiterated that she would not support the decision of selling out everything as she and her party were determined to fight for the cause of common people.
"I do not support any decision to sell out everything. This might suit one section of the government. We are determined to fight for the cause of the common people and we can sacrifice our lives but cannot compromise on it," she posted.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Friday decided to allow up to 51 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail.
The government Thursday announced a hike in diesel price by Rs.5 a litre and capped the supply of subsidised cooking gas cylinders to six per family per year.
Angered over the diesel price hike Thursday, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee said she would have been very happy if she could have withdrawn support from the UPA regime rather than be party to such "anti-people" policy.
She also announced that her party will hit the streets against the anti-people decision, and threatened it wouldn't "take her a minute to withdraw support" if the hike was not reversed.
"We oppose such anti-people policy. I am shocked and disappointed. They have made a coordination committee but they don't bother to discuss with the allies. I request the common people to take part in the rally," said Banerjee, also the West Bengal chief minister.
The government Thursday announced a hike in diesel price by Rs.five a litre and restricted availability of cooking gas cylinders per family to six per year.
"I would have been very happy if I could withdraw the support at this very moment. But if I withdraw the support other parties will come up to support them. They will accuse me of creating instability," Banerjee said.
"We will take a decision on it very soon. Our party will hit the streets from Sept 15 and I will also participate in the protest rally in Kolkata on Sept 15," she added.
She lashed out at the Congress-led UPA - where her party Trinamool Congress is the second largest ally - for not discussing the matter with the allies and demanded an immediate rollback of the prices.
"We want an immediate rollback otherwise we will be forced to take tough decisions. It will take a minute for me to withdraw from the government. If they say that they will increase the diesel price, then we have to rethink whether we will stay with the government or not," Banerjee said.
"For cause of Bengal we have kept the railway portfolio. That's all. The centre has not provided any help to debt-ridden Bengal. We are there just to provide stability to the government. But we can't be party to anti-people policies," Banerjee said.
Infuriated over the twin "anti-people" decisions - hike in diesel prices and nod to FDI in retail - Banerjee, whose Trinamool Congress is the United Progressive Alliance's second largest constituent, reminded the Congress not to cross the "Lakshman Rekha" (red line).
"We are not in favour of toppling the government. But they should not forget the 'Lakshman Rekha' of the alliance. We will not agree with any anti-people decisions. We have given 72-hour deadline to rethink... if you roll back, it's good. But if not, then be ready to face the consequences," she said, addressing a protest rally here.
"I don't agree with such economic reforms which are anti-people because I believe in grass root reforms which concern the masses. Leaders should stop taking decisions which help only four-five people for gaining personal laurels from handful of people. It is a matter of entire country," said Banerjee.
"Everybody should think about the common masses of the country rather than the creamy section of the society. Because creamy section makes one percent and common masses make the rest 99 percent of the population," she said.
The government Thursday announced a hike in diesel price by Rs.5 a litre and capped supply of subsidised cooking gas cylinders per family to six per year. The next day, it decided to allow up to 51 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail.
The entire industrial community has hailed Manmohan Singh's - who has often been credited as the father of economic reforms of 1991 - bold decisions to allow FDI in retail FDI and to hike diesel price.
Expressing her suspicion over the benefits of reforms reaching out to the poor and common people of the country, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee Saturday said reforms did not mean selling out everything in order to satisfy a section of individuals and the government. An infuriated Trinamool Congress leadership Friday issued a 72-hour deadline to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance regime to rethink the twin decisions of diesel price hike and foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail.
"Yes, we need reforms. But reform does not mean selling out everything to satisfy some sections of individuals. In a democratic set-up, reforms must reach up to the poor and common people and the beauty of democracy lies in realizing its responsibility towards the common people," Banerjee posted on her Facebook page.
Pointing out that developed countries have many social security schemes in order to channelize the benefits of reforms to all sections of the society, Banerjee said India doesn't have elaborate social security schemes or safety valve mechanisms for protection of the interest of common people.
"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 backbreaking burden on the common people," she posted.
Banerjee Friday said that her party was ready to take hard decisions during its parliamentary party meet Sep 18.
"If black money is unearthed in the country, and brought back home from abroad and is used for development purposes, then the Sensex will grow in an unparalleled manner," she said.
Banerjee reiterated that she would not support the decision of selling out everything as she and her party were determined to fight for the cause of common people.
"I do not support any decision to sell out everything. This might suit one section of the government. We are determined to fight for the cause of the common people and we can sacrifice our lives but cannot compromise on it," she posted.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Friday decided to allow up to 51 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail.
The government Thursday announced a hike in diesel price by Rs.5 a litre and capped the supply of subsidised cooking gas cylinders to six per family per year.
Angered over the diesel price hike Thursday, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee said she would have been very happy if she could have withdrawn support from the UPA regime rather than be party to such "anti-people" policy.
She also announced that her party will hit the streets against the anti-people decision, and threatened it wouldn't "take her a minute to withdraw support" if the hike was not reversed.
"We oppose such anti-people policy. I am shocked and disappointed. They have made a coordination committee but they don't bother to discuss with the allies. I request the common people to take part in the rally," said Banerjee, also the West Bengal chief minister.
The government Thursday announced a hike in diesel price by Rs.five a litre and restricted availability of cooking gas cylinders per family to six per year.
"I would have been very happy if I could withdraw the support at this very moment. But if I withdraw the support other parties will come up to support them. They will accuse me of creating instability," Banerjee said.
"We will take a decision on it very soon. Our party will hit the streets from Sept 15 and I will also participate in the protest rally in Kolkata on Sept 15," she added.
She lashed out at the Congress-led UPA - where her party Trinamool Congress is the second largest ally - for not discussing the matter with the allies and demanded an immediate rollback of the prices.
"We want an immediate rollback otherwise we will be forced to take tough decisions. It will take a minute for me to withdraw from the government. If they say that they will increase the diesel price, then we have to rethink whether we will stay with the government or not," Banerjee said.
"For cause of Bengal we have kept the railway portfolio. That's all. The centre has not provided any help to debt-ridden Bengal. We are there just to provide stability to the government. But we can't be party to anti-people policies," Banerjee said.
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