Mamata says she had wanted to remain in UPA

Kolkata, Jan 20: Months after her party quit the Congress-led UPA government, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is now claiming that she had wanted to remain in the government, but was forced to pull out as the Centre did not accede to her demands.

"We did not want to leave the UPA. We were forced to do so since the Centre did not accept our demands for withdrawal of hike in diesel price, LPG cap and FDI entry in retail," Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress supremo, told a party rally here yesterday.

"We can never allow FDI in multi-brand retail. TMC has guts. What its says it does. We do not have lust for ministerial positions," she said. "Till I am alive I will not ditch the people to enjoy power," she said, adding, she had no family but the people.

Dwelling on bulk purchase of diesel becoming costlier by Rs 11 and creating an additional burden of Rs 40 crore on state transport undertakings, she called for processions and meetings every evening in localities from tomorrow.

Banerjee, however, reiterated her opposition to bandhs and blockade, in an apparent hint at the Feb 20-21 general strike called by trade unions and Left parties.

She claimed Congress and CPI(M) had teamed up against the Trinamool Congress. "Both in Delhi and here, there are continuous attempts to belittle the TMC by spreading canards against us."

PTI