New Delhi, Oct 1: After parting ways with the UPA, Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee will for the first time lead a demonstration here today against "anti-people" decisions of the Centre.
All 19 TMC Mps are expected to be present at Jantar Mantar. The rally will be Mamata's first in the capital after her exit from the UPA 10 days ago.
"It is an unprecedented decision by Banerjee to hold a rally at Jantar Mantar in the national capital to press the Centre to review its decisions on FDI in retail, cap on subsidised LPG and diesel price hike," said Trinamool Congress MP K D Singh.
He said the demonstration was part of the party's resolve to show solidarity with the 'aam admi' who has been hurt the most by such decisions.
"Withdrawing from the UPA was the first step. A series of protests have been planned in the coming days till the decisions are withdrawn," he said.
When asked whether Trinamool Congress would support a resolution in Parliament against FDI if it is brought by BJP, former railway minister Mukul Roy evaded a direct reply.
"Who brings what is not the issue. The actual issue is the decision of the government which is anti-people...the then finance minister (Pranab Mukherjee) had assured Parliament that any decision on FDI will be taken after consulting all stakeholders and after evolving a consensus. That has not happened," he rued.
In her Facebook post, Banerjee had recently said: "Let us fight the battle boldly and unitedly. In a democracy, people are supreme. Our voice is the voice of the people. We must raise our voice, so that the government must reconsider."
She said the party's fight for the cause of common people continued with the help of 'Maa, Mati, Manush' throughout the country.
TMC, which has 19 members in the Lok Sabha, pulled out its six ministers from the government on September 21 and withdrew support to the Congress-led UPA on these issues.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and Union law and parliamentary affairs minister Salman Khurshid pooh-poohed Mamata's protest by saying that Mamata has no base outside Bengal. Khurshid did not fail to remind Mamata that even Narendra Modi is struggling to expand his fan following outside Gujarat.
"There was stress on us when we wanted to do some reforms. Clearly her point of her view and ours were different. I don't think she has a base out of Bengal. Even Narendra Modi hasn't been able to move out of Gujarat. I wish her all the best," said Khurshid.
