Mamata to lead demonstration against rise in petrol prices

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is to lead a public rally against the increased petrol prices today. The rally will take place in South Kolkata.

"We are not supporting this price hike. Trinamool Congress was not informed before such a big hike. When in alliance, parties should talk," Mamata said earlier, when the hike was first announced on Wednesday.

Timing

"Why was it not announced when Parliament was in session?" the Bengal chief minister said, questioning the timing of the hike. "We are sorry. I am sad. But still I appeal to the Centre to work for the betterment of the economic situation. We are in touch with other UPA allies," she said.

On Thursday, three key UPA  allies — Trinamool Congress, DMK and NCP — did not attend an important Cabinet meet held at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence. Although the ministers said their absence should not to be viewed as a "protest" but their resentment of the hike, which they say had been decided without wider consultations.

What is also keeping Mamata worried is the talk about increasing prices of diesel and cooking gas, which will affect the lowest denominator of population.

"Any increase in LPG and diesel prices is unacceptable as it would lead to all-round inflation in food prices which are already suffering double digit inflation," she added.

Union Minister Mukul Roy and other Trinamool Congress leaders led a protest march on Thursday on the same issue, which is being viewed as a major embarrassment for the UPA government, where a cabinet minister is protesting against the decision of the cabinet of which he is a member.  

Analysts believe that TMC had little option since the Left parties and BJP are taking this option as a route to corner Trinamool Congress since it is in alliance with the Congress at the centre.

The Left has already declared a state-wide protest starting from May 26 to 31 and any increase in prices of diesel and kerosene will give them more political leverage before the local body elections due next month.

Meanwhile, DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) called for an agitation in Tamil Nadu on May 30 to demand a rollback of the petrol price hike.

The protest action by the Trinamool Congress and the DMK are expected to lend weight to a united opposition onslaught against the hike with the Bhartiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance and the Left already announcing an all India strike on May 31.

Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare also announced support for the Bharat Bandh (all India strike), saying his supporters will participate in the stir.

Joining the growing political opposition to the hike, the ruling Biju Janata Dal in eastern state Odisha gave a call for a state-wide bandh on May 31 to demand an immediate rollback.