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India Trinamool Congress protests against reforms | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A key regional party that pulled out of India's ruling coalition over its decision to open the retail sector to global supermarket chains is holding a protest in Delhi. | |
This is the first such protest in the capital by the Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee. | |
The party resigned from the Congress party-led coalition last month. | |
Six ministers quit and its 19 MPs will no longer back the coalition in the parliament. | |
However, correspondents say the government's majority is not at immediate risk. | However, correspondents say the government's majority is not at immediate risk. |
It still has the support of more than 300 MPs and needs 272 to stay in power. | It still has the support of more than 300 MPs and needs 272 to stay in power. |
'Solidarity' | 'Solidarity' |
Party MP KD Singh told reporters that the Delhi protest was to show "solidarity with the ordinary people who have been hurt by the reforms". | |
Ms Banerjee, who is also the chief minister of West Bengal state and a powerful regional leader, said the party would protest to persuade the government to reconsider the reforms. | |
Her supporters also blame the central government for a 14% rise in the price of diesel last month and for similar rises in the price of cooking gas. | Her supporters also blame the central government for a 14% rise in the price of diesel last month and for similar rises in the price of cooking gas. |
The government says that the reforms are necessary to revive the economy. | The government says that the reforms are necessary to revive the economy. |
Under the government's proposal, global firms - such as Walmart and Tesco - will be able to buy up to a 51% stake in multi-brand retailers in India. | Under the government's proposal, global firms - such as Walmart and Tesco - will be able to buy up to a 51% stake in multi-brand retailers in India. |
Multinational retailers already have outlets in India, but at present they can sell only to smaller retailers. This decision will allow them to sell directly to Indian consumers. | Multinational retailers already have outlets in India, but at present they can sell only to smaller retailers. This decision will allow them to sell directly to Indian consumers. |