Kolkata: After taking on the Centre for
not curbing violence allegedly engineered by the CPI(M) in
West Bengal, Trinamool Congress chief and Railway minister
Mamata Banerjee on Thursday criticised the UPA government for its
failure to tackle the price rise including that of onion.
"The price of onion is skyrocketing. Onion is being
sold at Rs 70 a kg. We are very concerned over spiralling
prices of onion and other essential commodities," Banerjee
told a public meeting here.
Banerjee said that her part had suggested that there
should be a coordination or a monitoring committee among UPA
allies to discuss various issues, "but without consulting us
petrol price was increased."
She said just as the Centre could not avoid its
responsibility on spiralling prices, the state government was
equally responsible as it had done nothing to curb it.
Reiterating her charge that central forces deployed
for anti-Maoist operations were being misused by the CPIM to
retrieve lost ground, Banerjee urged the Centre to recall
them.
"I would have nothing to say if central forces are
used against Maoists, but they are kept at the disposal of the
state government. The Centre should carry out the operation
with its own agency," she said.
Banerjee said that TC MPs would meet the Prime
Minister during the day to apprise him of the prevailing
situation in the state.
She said that TC workers would protest the shooting
price of onion in the same way as CPIM `terror` and directed
party workers to take to the streets on December 27 against
the price rise.
PTI
