BJP MP Arjun Singh on Thursday said he would take part in a protest rally called by Trinamul over the issue of capping of jute prices, if the ruling dispensation in Bengal invited him.

Singh also said that since the Trinamul affiliated trade union was organising the protest, it must invite all other 24-odd trade unions as well.

“I had urged the state government to take up this issue. Since Trinamul is organising this protest, they should call all other trade unions. If they do so and call our union I will of course take part in the protest,” Singh told this paper.

Over the past few days, Singh has been voicing his discontent with the Union textile ministry and the Jute Commissioner’s office for capping the price of raw jute at Rs 6,500 a quintal, which he and stakeholders in the industry said had created a crisis in the sector.Singh also sought the support of chief minister Mamata Banerjee on this issue.

Trinamul called for a protest in front of the Jute Commissioner’s office in Salt Lake on May 4.

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, a Trinamul MP, said: “He (Singh) will need to apply if he wants to join the protest called by us. The party will then decide.”

In reply, Singh said he “won’t apply” to Trinamul to let him be a part of the protest. “The protest is called by them. It is their responsibility to invite other unions,” he said.

He said he would write to the chief ministers of Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand and Bihar on Friday to take up the jute crisis with the Centre.

He also said that he would organise protest meets in front of four jute mills in Barrackpore, Naihati, Hooghly and Howrah on May 4 and 5.