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Mamata rules out withdrawal of resignation from coordination panel

Trinamul Congress leader Mamata Banerjee yesterday ruled out the possibility of withdrawing her resignation from the coordination committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies saying the move was intended to awaken the government to the price rise which affected the masses.

She, however, made it clear that her party had no intention to withdraw support to the BJP-led government to create political instability at the Centre as such a move would not be in the interest of the common people.

Instead of politicising the issue, the Centre and the state governments should jointly tackle it by launching some common programmes such as taking deterrent action against hoarders and dishonest traders, she said while speaking to the media.

She said the government had enough power to include any item in the Essential Commodities Act to check price rise.

Prises were rising due to lack of proper feedback to the prime minister, she said. ''The prime minister alone cannot handle the issue. He is an honest and simple person.''

She said that it is correct that bureaucracy can deliver the goods but not always particularly in a crisis situation like this when the price of most commodities has skyrocketed. This sort of situation can only be tackled by political will, she said.

UNI

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