‘Drastic step’ if no rollback: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee warned on Saturday that the Trinamool Congress will be forced to take a "drastic step" if the Centre does not roll back its decisions on FDI in retail and increase in diesel prices before its parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday.

Addressing a rally here on Saturday, Mamata said her party would not accept "anti-people" reforms which will harm the interests of the common people.

"We do not want an election now, but there is a limit to tolerance. Despite being the second largest party in the UPA, we have just one ministry. But the ministry hardly matters to me. Do not force me to take a drastic step," she warned.

"Before Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, we had clearly stated in our manifesto that we are against FDI in retail trade, hiking prices of petrol and diesel and putting pension fund in share market. We cannot back out from the manifesto. I am confident that people will not hold us responsible if a mid-term poll is held," said Mamata, adding that the cap on supply of subsidised LPG cylinders should be increased to 24 per household.

Accusing the Centre of trying to sell "everything from the sky to earth", she said: "They allowed FDI in every sector including civil aviation and cable... We will wait for three days. If the decisions are not reconsidered by Monday, we will be compelled to take strong steps.

"They (the Congress) should remember that nobody enjoys absolute majority at the Centre unlike in West Bengal where we have absolute majority," said Mamata.

"Yes, we need reforms. But reform does not mean to sell out everything to satisfy some sections of individuals. In a democratic set-up, reforms must reach the poor and common people and the beauty of democracy lies in realising its responsibility towards the common people," she said in a post on her Facebook account.

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