Stung by FDI, Didi calls urgent meet

'Double whammy' May pull out ministers from UPA cabinet

Hours after the Centre decided to allow Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail trade, Trinamool Congress — the second largest constituent of the UPA — called an emergency meeting of its Parliamentary party on September 18 to decide on "whether the party would stay in the union Cabinet".

"The Thursday's announcement of hiking the diesel price had infuriated us. Today's decision is like sprinkling salt on the wound," a Trinamool MP said adding the party might withdraw ministers from the union Cabinet and support the government from outside. It may be mentioned that after the Centre hiked the diesel price on Thursday, an an annoyed Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee had said that she would intensify protest against such unilateral and anti-people move but would not topple the government.

Today, sources in the party said Trinamool supremo might take a "drastic step" as she feels that "the Centre has become desperate to carry forward reforms that are surely going to harm the interest of the common people". Asked what could be the "drastic step", the leader said it might be "withdrawal of ministers from the Cabinet".

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP, said: "From the very beginning, party chief Mamata Banerjee has been saying it categorically that we will not allow FDI in multi-brand retail market because the livelihood of those involved in retail trade business would become uncertain. Despite this, the Centre has decided to allow FDI in multi-brand retail and that too by keeping us in the dark. We are going to hold an emergency meeting of our parliamentary party on September 18 to decide the next course of action," Roy said. "The party will intensify protest against the Centre's decision. Tomorrow, we would hold a protest rally which will originate at Subodh Mullick Square," Roy added.

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