New Delhi: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee
met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here late on Tuesday night 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
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.
PTI
