Mamata for alternative to taxing poor, price hike

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said an alternative must be found to taxing the poor and raising the prices of essential commodities whenever economic problems cropped up.

Without elaborating on her `alternative`, Banerjee said "common man should not be burdened. We have been seeing for a long time that national wealth and resources remain unused and misused and if these are used according to a proper plan, an alternative route must be somewhere in the horizon".
Writing in the inaugural issue of the party`s English montly "All India Trinamool Congress Leads", formally launched here today, she said "Whenever coffers demand money, the easiest way is to exert pressure - be it by way of raising the prices of essential commodities or by burdening the poor with taxes".

Emphasising that her party was for the poor and the weaker sections of society, she said her party`s top priority was advancement of the poor and restoration of the socio-economic balance. She said whenever economy undergoes a reforms process, the poorer sections are pushed to the margin.

Her comments came in the midst of her party`s strong opposition to FDI in retail, banking, insurance and pension sectors and hike in fuel prices.

Touching upon what she said a "strange power equation" existing between the Centre and the states, she said that under this atmosphere decision-making became difficult.

PTI