Wanted to stay in UPA but quit for its anti-people policies: CM

Assembly passes resolution condemning FDI in retail, Left walks out

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's attack on the Congress in the Assembly during today's debate on the government resolution condemning FDI in retail lacked the usual sting. She even said she had no intention of leaving the UPA and wanted to stay in the alliance for five years, but its "anti-people policies" had made her quit.

The chief minister was replying to the debate on the resolution brought by the state government. "I don't want to make disparaging remarks against the Congress. Khama hi poromo dharma (forgiveness is the best virtue). I did not want to leave the UPA. When I was coming back after attending a civic reception for President Pranab Mukherjee I was informed that the Centre took such decisions. I sent a message to the UPA chairperson. It is a mystery why so many decisions were taken in a day. The UPA was looking for new friends and it has found them. But I won't compromise on policies," she said during the debate on the resolution, which was passed in the Assembly.

Mamata also said that while she wanted a discussion on the issue to be initiated in Parliament, she also wanted legislative assemblies of other states to adopt such resolutions.

The chief minister said she never wanted anything from the Congress. "We did not want a governor, a high court judge, it's unfortunate that even though we have 19 Lok Sabha members and six Rajya Sabha members we don't have an office in Parliament when Lalu Prasad having five members has got one," she said.

Mamata said she was ready to provide 24 cylinders to a family every year, provided the Centre did not collect taxes like income tax or infrastructure tax from states.

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