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Mamata extends deadline by three days

Rifat Jawaid in Calcutta

The Trinamul Congress chief and Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday gave the Centre three more days to make up its mind on the revision of petroleum hike.

The West Bengal leader, who tendered her resignation from the Union Cabinet along another leader of her party on Saturday, told a press conference here that the prime minister had "agreed to reduce the prices of LPG, kerosene and even diesel."

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's special emissary, Sudheendra Kulkarni, with whom the maverick leader had a series of meetings, was present at the press conference.

"I am grateful to Mr Vajpayee, who took personal interest and first sent George (Fernandes) and then Kulkarni with his messages. Since late last night, I was busy holding discussions with the prime minister's emissary. Mr Vajpayee will hold a special Cabinet meeting on September 6 primarily to get the rollback decision ratified by all ministers," Banerjee said.

She, however, made it clear that none of the Trinamul ministers would attend the Cabinet meeting. She justified this saying that she was no longer a minister in Vajpayee cabinet. "Besides, I am busy monitoring relief work for flood victims in West Bengal," she said.

Asked to what extent would the petroleum prices be reduced, Mamata said: "It is confidential."

She, however, hoped that the rollback would be substantial. "The demand for a rollback represented the angst of the common people," she said.

Kulkarni did not speak to the media and left in Mamata's car soon after the press conference. "I am extremely happy with the outcome of my meeeting with Ms Banerjee," was all he said to the waiting journalists.

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Prices of diesel, petrol, LPG hiked

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