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India Trinamool Congress protests against reforms | India Trinamool Congress protests against reforms |
(about 5 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 has staged a rally in Delhi. | |
The protest by about 1,000 people is the first such demonstration in the capital by the Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee. | |
Last month the party's six ministers quit the Congress party-led coalition. | |
Its 19 MPs no longer support the coalition in 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' |
At the rally in Delhi, Ms Banerjee promised further protests. She said she would consider teaming up with other political parties to force a no-confidence motion in the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the BBC's Divya Arya reports. | |
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". | 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. | 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 changes 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. |