KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday described the agitation by Left parties against the hike in oil prices an "eye-wash." Ms. Banerjee claimed she knew of an `understanding' between the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Congress that the United Progressive Alliance Government would reduce the fuel prices after the "agitation drama" of the Left.

"The prices will be reduced by Re.1 to Rs. 1.25 per litre after the stir by Left parties," she said. Ms. Banerjee dared the Left parties to withdraw their support to the UPA Government over the price hike issue. "The UPA Government would not have decided on raising the prices unless it had been assured support by the Left on the matter", she said.

Secretary of the CPI (M) State Committee Biman Bose, however, dismissed Ms. Banerjee's contention. He said the Left parties had given a note to the Prime Minister suggesting alternatives to the price hike but that had been ignored. The Left Front partners would meet on Wednesday to chalk out their plan of action against the price hike in the run-up to the nation-wide protest on June 13.

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