Left stage agitation : Mamata dares to withdraw support to UPA

Kolkata, Jun 6 (UNI) The Left parties in West Bengal today staged statewide demonstrations as part of their all-India programme against the price rise of petroleum products, while the Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee dared the CPI(M) to withdraw support to the UPA Government at the Centre.

The partners of the ruling Left Front hit the street taking out out processions, holding street meetings and demonstrations in different parts of the state and charged he Congress-led coalition Government at the Centre with taking anti-people measures.

The speakers alleged that the UPA Government had ignored the demand of Left parties for restructuring taxation for oil which would have stabilised the price in the country.

Alleging that the the CPI(M)-led forces were enacting a 'drama' in the name of agitation, Ms Banerjee said the Left parties had an 'understanding' with the UPA Government.

" If the Left parties are really sincere in the demand for a rollback of price hike, they should immediately withdraw support to the UPA Government, " Ms Banerjee said.

Demanding that the Government withdraw its decision, Trinamool Congress workers blocked Park street and Mayo road in central Kolkata, disrupting vehicular traffic in the busy hours. They also burnt an effigy of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

Ridiculing Ms Banerjee's allegation, Left Front Committee Chairman Biman Basu said the Left parties had all along been sincere in their demand against a rise in oil price and even submitted a note to the Prime Minister detailing how it could be stabilised by lowering cess and the import duty.

" Those shouting had been a partner of the NDA Government and kept silence over all anti-people measures, including privatisation of BALCO and NALCO and the attempt to hand over BHEL to private parties, " he said.

Though the UPA Government had been faultering on the CMP, " Time has not come to withdraw support to it, " he said.

" We will continue our struggle against all its anti-people policies, " he said.

Mr Basu said the Left Front partners would meet tomorrow to chalk out programmes for a sustained agitation in the state which would culminate into an all-India protest day to be observed on June 13.

UNI KDG SJC RN1929