Petrol price hiked: PM upsets Mamata's men

New Delhi, Nov 8: Unhappy over the latest hike in petrol prices, Trinamool Congress MPs today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to register their protest with a warning that any other such increase would make the party consider its future ties with the UPA government.

The delegation of the party, which is the second largest constituent of the UPA after Congress with 18 MPs, indicated that it got no assurance from the Prime Minister on the demands for rollback of Rs 1.8 hike in petrol price announced last week.

"We expressed our sentiments to the Prime Minister and gave him a copy of the resolution adopted at the Parliamentary Party meeting held in Kolkata," said Union Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandhopadhyay after the 45-minute meeting with Singh.

He said the delegation had categorically told the Prime Minister that Trinamool was opposed to any decision that would lead to another rise in the prices of diesel, LPG and kerosene, as has been reported in the media. Singh said he was not aware of any such decision, Bandhopadhyay told reporters.

"Trinamool Congress will not digest easily whenever there is another rise in prices of petrol, diesel and LPG," Bandhopadhyay said. Trinamool MPs complain to PM that there is a "huge lack" Trinamool MPs complain to PM that there is a "huge lack" of coordination with allies.

PTI