A day after the Centre's directive to the states to announce additional relief in petrol and diesel prices, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee came down heavily on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, saying the TMC has already reduced the fuel prices, which led to a huge amount of debt to repay.
"We've already reduced fuel prices but we have debts to repay. The centre has hiked fuel prices, not us," the TMC chief was quoted as saying by ANI.
Mirroring Congress president Rahul Gandhi's assertion on the 'broken economy', Banerjee further said, "I support Rahul Gandhi's comment 'the economy is already broken and the government should immediately go'."
Read | Fuel Price Cut: Rahul Gandhi urges PM Narendra Modi to bring petrol, diesel under GST
The West Bengal CM was referring to Gandhi's October 4 tweet, where he mocked the Narendra Modi government, saying "#Breaking: Rupee slips to 73.77 It's not breaking - it's Broken. #Rupee".
Addressing a press conference, Banerjee also stressed on the factors of Opposition alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2019. She has invited all the opposition parties for her mega rally scheduled to take place on January 19 in Kolkata.
Reacting to BSP chief Mayawati's recent move to go alone for the upcoming elections, Mamata said, "I can't comment on the stand taken by Mayawati about Congress but I'll invite both Congress and Mayawati".
Read | Petrol, diesel prices cut by Rs 2.50; BJP-ruled states asked to announce additional relief
"I have invited Kerala CM also. CPM is constantly working against me, but I will invite them too. I appeal to all the opposition parties to come together," she said.
In a veiled attack on the ruling BJP, she said TMC will ensure that "BJP does not win a single seat in Bengal". "Their tactics will not work in Bengal," Banerjee reiterated.
Read | After petrol and diesel, LPG cylinder, CNG prices increased; check new rates here
Early on Thursday, Banerjee blamed the Centre for high fuel prices, and demanded the Union government should roll back the Rs 10 cess it levied on petrol and diesel before asking the states to reduce taxes. She said that the Centre can dictate the BJP-ruled states but not the others.
Banerjee also alleged that the Centre gave money to the BJP-ruled states and claimed that it did not want to give funds to other states.
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