After talks with Mamata, Pranab meets PM

Meeting came within hours of Trinamool MPs meeting with the PM to convey their concern over the petrol price hike

prasanna

Prasanna Mohanty | November 9, 2011



Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee met prime minister Manmohan Singh here late tonight and is understood to have briefed him about his talks with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

Mukherjee's meeting with Singh came within hours of Trinamool MPs meeting with the prime minister to convey their serious concern over the petrol price hike issue.

Mamata, who has been pushing for a special financial package from the Centre to help West Bengal tide over acute cash crunch, had an over hour-long meeting with Mukherjee earlier in the day in Kolkata after which she expressed disappointment about its outcome.

"Nothing substantial came out. This type of meetings were also held in the past," Banerjee told Bengali news channel 'Star Ananda' after the meeting with Mukherjee.

Wondering how she could manage the state's economy left behind by the previous Left Front government, the chief minister said "we have to spend crores and crores of rupees for meeting salaries, allowances and other requirements. Where is the central assistance?"

She also gave an ultimatum to the UPA government saying her party would not remain in the coalition if it effects another hike in prices of petro products.

"Trinamool Congress will not remain in the UPA government if the Centre resorts to another increase in prices of diesel, kerosene and LPG," Banerjee said.


 

Comments

 

Other News

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.  

Cabinet approves viability gap funding to develop grid-scale energy storage systems

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Development of Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems, with a total financial support of Rs.14,500 crore for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. The scheme aims to support the development o

Cabinet creates a pathway to absorb Agniveers in Defence Forces

An objective assessment in terms of organisational requirements and operational efficiency has brought out the outstanding performance of Agniveers in terms of skills, motivation levels, physical fitness and technological prowess. As envisaged earlier, based on merit, 25% of Agniveers will be offered reg

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter