Petro prices to be cut on Left's behest: Mamata

Mamata claimed that the Cong and the CPI(M) had reached an understanding to reduce the prices of petrol and diesel.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee claimed on Tuesday that that she had information that the Congress and the CPI(M) had reached an understanding to reduce the prices of petrol and diesel hiked from midnight on Monday night after the "drama" of agitation by left parties.

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"I have information that Congress and the CPI(M) have reached an understanding whereby prices of petro products will be reduced by Re one to Rs 1.25 per litre following the stir by left parties," Banerjee said.

She accused the CPI(M), which together with other left parties provide crucial outside support to the UPA government, of enacting a "drama" in calling for agitation over the price rise of petrol and diesel.

"The agitation by the Marxists is a mere eyewash. The UPA government would not have dared to decide on increasing petro product prices unless it had the backing of the Marxists," she claimed.

Throwing a challenge to the CPI(M), which she dubbed as the 'remote control of the UPA government, she asked the party to withdraw support to the UPA government "if it has the guts to do so.

"Are the Marxists serious about the interests of the common masses?" she asked and demanded a total rollback of the hiked prices of petro products.

Banerjee said "While the CPI(M) lend support to the UPA government's move to effect a price hike, they don't forget to announce agitational programmes".

The TC leader said that the UPA government had hiked fuel prices six times in two years.

"During the NDA regime, the price of petrol in Kolkata was Rs 36.61 which shot up to Rs 51.60 after yesterday's announcement," she said.

The petro price hike, she said, would have a cascading effect on prices of essential commodities, which would hit the farmers hard.

About her party's agitation programmes, she said from Wednesday the Trinamool Congress would launch a two-day movement at the block-level, followed by a central rally at the base of Gandhi statue at the Maidan in Kolkata.

From June 14, a week-long agitation would be launched state-wide demanding rollback in the prices of petro products, she said.