FDI row: Trinamool may pull out its ministers, NDA steps up protest

Trinamool Congress, a major UPA constituent, may consider pulling out its ministers from the government in protest against allowing FDI in retail and diesel price hike, and giving it outside support.

Ahead of their countrywide agitation on September 20, the NDA and the Left parties also stepped up their offensive against the government's decisions which, they said, would badly hit the common man and the farmers.

The Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee, has set a 72-hour deadline on Friday for the government to roll back its decision on diesel, cutting supply of subsidised LPG cylinders, and FDI in multi-brand retail, failing which, it threatened to intensify its agitation.

Party insiders said one serious option that could be considered is withdrawing its cabinet minister for railways and six other ministers of state at the centre unless the government rolls back some of its decisions at least partially.

Banerjee is slated to consult party leaders and MPs on Tuesday to chalk out the next course of action.

Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi, however, remained confident of "sorting out" differences and described Mamata Banerjee as an "important and valued colleague" in the UPA.

TMC sources said the way out could be that the centre could effect a token cut on the Rs5 per litre hike in diesel prices and give more subsidised LPG cylinders and not restrict them to six.

However, TMC, which has 19 MPs in Lok Sabha, is said to be strongly opposed to allowing FDI in multi-brand retailing.

Lashing out at the Government, BJP leader Balbir Punj said it has lost the faith of common man and its isolation is complete as even its allies are not being able to live with it due to the "arrogance" of Congress.

Upping the ante, JD(U) said that the government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will have to go for this "dangerous venture". Party President Sharad Yadav expressed confidence that Mamata Banerjee won't support FDI in retail under any circumstances.

Yadav, who is the NDA convener, indicated that the coordinated agitation by the opposition on September 20, will strive to ensure that the government is ousted.

In Kolkata, Left parties on Sunday announced a 12-hour all-India general strike on September 20 coinciding with the agitation by other opposition parties and UPA supporter SP