TMC slams govt on FDI in retail

Trinamool Congress on Friday accused the UPA government of violating its assurance in Lok Sabha of allowing FDI in multi-brand retail only after consulting stakeholders, including the party which was the second largest constituent of the alliance.

In its letter to the President conveying withdrawal of support, party general secretary Mukul Roy alleged several decisions impacting the common man were taken in recent times without reaching a consensus.

"Trinamool Congress has observed in recent past that several decisions on important issues, including rise in prices of petroleum products, fertilizers, restriction of subsidized LPG cyliners, violation of assurance given in Lok Sabha regarding reaching a consensus with stakeholders before introducing FDI in multi-brand retail....have been taken by the central government.

"This has been done without any consultation with TMC, though it is the second largest constituent of UPA-II", he said.

These issues, he said, were deliberated in the meeting of the working committee of the party on September 18 in Kolkata.

In view the "present circumstances" and "anti-people policies" of the government, the party has "unanimously decided to withdraw its support to the UPA-II with immediate effect", Roy said.

One of the TMC ministers, after submitting the resignation, quoted the Prime Minister as having told them that "you were good allies. I can understand your political compulsion".

Roy said they would like to press for a division in Parliament whenever the issue of FDI comes up but would not press for a special session of the House.

"I can assure you that government will be a minority on this issue because not many MPs are going to support the FDI. Government should prove that it has majority support in the House on the issue".