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Mamata for all-party meeting to defuse Parliament deadlock

Amid continuing standoff between the government and Opposition in Parliament, key UPA ally Trinamool Congress today suggested that an all-party meeting should be called to defuse the crisis, saying the Opposition needs to be taken into confidence over the issue.

TMC chief Mamata Banerjee said the Opposition has a"prerogative" to raise issues but indicated that it was for PrimeMinister Manmohan Singh to decide whether or not to accept the demand for hisresignation.

"Meeting of all-political parties is very nuch neededto resolve the issue. On what format Opposition wants discussion must bediscussed with them. We must take Opposition into confidence. There are so manybig issues and it can be sorted out through talks, negotiation anddiscussion," Mamata told reporters when asked about the way forward toresolve the current impasse in Parliament.

Parliament remains deadlocked for the third consecutive daywith the main Opposition BJP unrelenting on its demand for the resignation ofPrime Minister Manmohan Singh over CAG report citing irregularities in coalblock allocations.

The Trinamool chief said, "Parliament is a foundationof democratic system. Our view is that if any issue or scandal is raised thenthere must be full debate on it. Opposition must raise the issue as it is theirprerogative. It is democracy and it is their prerogative to raise theissue," Mamata told reporters here.

On the demand for PM's resignation, she said"Opposition parties can raise it, it is their prerogative to raise. If Iask you to resign right now will you resign. It depends upon you."

Mamata, who met Finance Minister P Chidambaram, is slated tomeet Prime Minister today.

Expressing concern over the plight of farmers, Mamata soughtthe Centre's help in controlling fertiliser prices.

"After the decontrol of fertiliser, farmers are facinga lot of problems. Subsidy in fertiliser was withdrawn in 2010 as it wasdecontrolled. In our country 75 per cent of fertiliser comes from import anddomestic fertiliser is only 25 per cent," the West Bengal Chief Ministersaid after meeting Chidamabram.

This is her first meeting with Chidambaram after he becameFinance Minister.

Demanding revival of subsidy in fertiliser, she said,"Farmers are not being able to buy fertiliser due to the high price. It'sa bad situation. Fertiliser is under the Centre so I have asked for subsidy infertiliser to control the price.

There are big farmers and small farmers. In Bengal poorfarmers cannot afford imported fertiliser."

Raising the issue of bad condition of National Highways inWest Bengal, Mamata said, "We have so many highways in bad condition inthe state. Conditions are very bad on NH-6, NH-34 and NH -11."

Asked whether she raised the issue of state's demand forfinancial package, she said, "Our state Finance Minister Amit Mitra willsoon meet Chidambaram...they will discuss the state's finance in details."

She was more upfront on FDI issue saying no to it in anysector. "We are not in favour of FDI. Whether in insurance, aviation orretail, we are against FDI. we stand by our manifesto and we are for commonpeople. we would not deviate from it."

Asked about FDI in aviation sector, she said we are not infavour of it. We want Air India should be saved.

Asked whether the centre is doing enough on Naxal issue,Trinamool supremo claimed there is no Naxal problem in West Bengal. "TheDarjeeling and Junglemahal issues are also settled now. She said the creditshould go to the people of West Bengal for this.

Calling upon the Naxals to join the mainstream, she said thepeople who are fighting with goons and guns should join the national mainstreamand we are ready to take care of their families."

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Mumbai police chief shifted days after Azad Maidan violence

Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik was transferred on Thursday amid mounting opposition clamour for his ouster over his alleged failure to prevent August 11 Azad Maidan violence, though the government termed it as a routine exercise.

PTI
Published Aug 23, 2012, 3:06 PM IST
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Patnaik, a 1979 batch officer of the Indian Police Service,has been replaced by Additional Director General (Law and Order) Satyapal Singhof 1980 batch.Patnaik has been promoted to the rank of Director General ofPolice and posted as Managing Director of Maharashtra State SecurityCorporation, state's Home Minister R R Patil told PTI, describing the transferas a "routine administrative process".Seeking to downplay his shifting from the high-profile post,barely two days after a…

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