Amid demands for a rollback of fuel prices by UPA partners the Trinamool Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Nationalist Congress Party on Sunday came in support of the measures taken by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and said the party would not take any decision that would affect the stability of the Congress-led coalition.
“We are part of the decision-making process... the NCP will not take any decision that will affect the stability of the government. We will explain to our colleagues who have different views and try to convince them about the larger national interest,” NCP chief and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar told PTI .
Noting that there are a “number of good decisions” in the 2010-11 budget like widening of the income tax slabs, the Minister said the government wanted to protect the interests of the weaker sections and the middle class.
“There are many decisions helpful to the farming community. Substantial provision has been made for rural development and primary education as also to address the problem of urbanisation,” he said.
Mr. Pawar emphasised that the government had to raise resources to fulfil the promises made to the people. “Today, we are trying to improve the economy and the growth rate is definitely improving. In such a situation, stability and continuity are the most important things for the nation.”
Mr. Pawar’s statement has come as a balm for the Finance Minister who is under intense pressure from the Opposition as also allies for a rollback but stood his ground so far.
The NCP is a key ally of the UPA and has nine members in the Lok Sabha. The two parties also share power in Maharashtra.
Congress allies Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee and DMK leader M. Karunanidhi have demanded the “inflationary” measures be rolled back.
The Trinamool took out rallies in Kolkata on Saturday to protest the fuel price hike while Ms. Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
