Pranab Downplays Mamata Pullout Threat

Kolkata, Nov 5: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today sought to downplay the threat by key UPA constituent Trinamool Congress to withdraw support to the Government over the petrol price hike, saying it was “perfectly legitimate” for any ally to voice concerns on such issues.

Mukherjee at the same time expressed confidence that the fuel hike issue which has sparked the threat from Mamata Banerjee’s party would be sorted out soon with allies after talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

“The issue will be sorted out soon with allies. We would talk to the PM and the issue will be resolved,” Mukherjee told reporters.

Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said a solution to the issue would be found out after a meeting with the allies. Pressure has mounted on the government to roll back the hike as Mamata attacked the decision to raise the petrol price by Rs 1.80 as unilateral without consultations with allies like her party, DMK and National Conference.


From: http://ping.fm/vhlmU