UPA is looting in the name of reforms: Mamata

Kolkata: Accusing the UPA government of `looting` and `lying` to the country, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said the cap on subsidised LPG cylinders would seriously hit the midday meal scheme.

"Is it what the common people expect from reforms? In the name of reforms, `loot chalche loot` (the country is being looted). To suppress it, `jhoot chalche jhoot` (the government is lying)," Banerjee wrote on her Facebook page. "This is a very sensitive matter. The Central Government has never thought of the fate of poor school children.... There is a fear that these school children may have to go without food in schools due to enormous increase in price of non-subsidised LPG cylinder," Banerjee said. Later, at a rally at Sarisahat in South 24 Parganas district, Banerjee was equally unsparing on the government. "They are raising the price of kerosene, diesel and LPG at will, caring a little to protect the midday meal scheme for school children which may be seriously affected," Banerjee said. Expressing determination to fight on for the people`s cause, she said "Centre has been unashamedly attacking the poor which I will not tolerate. I will not relent in my fight against injustice and atrocities. Throughout my life, I will continue my fight," she said. Calling for intensifying protests against the Centre`s `anti-people policies`, the Trinamool Congress said it had raised the price of fertiliser harming farmers. In her Facebook post, Banerjee said the real impact of the restriction on subsidised LPG cylinders was unfolding now. "Common people have been burdened with additional Rs 127 (exclusive of taxes) per cylinder. The price is likely to go up further in the coming months." Banerjee said, "I’m told that more such unpleasant decisions are in the offing." At the rally at Sarisahat, she announced setting up of a women`s university at Diamond Harbour, a medical college, a hilsa research centre, IT park at Falta, and a food processing hub, among others. PTI