All-party talks sans solution

Statesman News Service

KOLKATA, Sept. 30: The state government’s bid to salvage the Nano project hit another roadblock with the Congress turning its back on the chief minister, refusing to support the resolution moved by him at the all-party meeting which appealed to Tata Motors to resume work at Singur. A furious chief minister found “reflection of the Trinamul Congress’ stand” in this overnight change of stance by the Congress leadership which came after Trinamul Congress chief Miss Mamata Banerjee met Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi. The all-party meeting was called by the government at the behest of the Congress ahead of Mr Bhattacharjee’s meeting with Mr Ratan Tata slated for 3 October. The outcome of the all-party meeting was particularly embarrassing for the state government as it failed to muster support from any Opposition party save the BJP, which again does not have any representative in the Assembly. The Trinamul Congress, along with the SUCI, boycotted the meeting, demanding implementation of the Raj Bhavan accord.Mr Subrata Mukherjee, who represented the Congress at the meeting, said: “When the state government has agreed to part with 70 acres, why can't the quantum of land be increased to 170 or 270 acres. The Tatas should be asked to move out a part of the ancillaries ... We are not supporting the resolution for the time being.” Congress president, Mr PR Dasmunshi's letter to the chief minister echoed the same arguments put forward by Miss Banerjee, although last week he had said that the government had erred in entering into the Raj Bhavan accord. Referring to the letter, Mr Bhattacharjee said: “I do not know if this is an unanimous stand of their party leaders. However, the Congress said it is not supporting the resolution at present. Hopefully, good sense would prevail.” The resolution read that the participants were expressing concern over the suspension of work at Singur and appealed to Tata Motors and ancillaries to resume work, as well as to the people in general to ensure a congenial atmosphere for construction of the plant. The government once again clarified that it was not possible to provide more than 70 acres within the project site or to provide alternative land to the land losers. Industries minister Mr Nirupam Sen said the package offered by the state government was better than the provisions of a new Bill moved by the Centre. Trinamul chief Miss Banerjee met Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi today on the Singur issue and demanded Central intervention in West Bengal under Article 355 of the Constitution to “protect” the interests of farmers there, PTI adds from New Delhi.

Priya criticises Mamata for demanding invocation of Art 355
Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 30: The West Bengal PCC chief Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi today criticised the Trinamul Congress chief Miss Mamata Banerjee for demanding invocation of Article 355 in West Bengal.“We support some points raised by Miss Mamta Banerjee on the Singur issue but not her demand for the invocation of Article 355 in the state,” Mr Das Munshi said here today. Downplaying Miss Banerjee's criticism against the Congress for agreeing to attend the all-party meeting convened by the state government in Kolkata today, the Congress leader said: “Those who were in the Congress but siding with the CPI-M are now with Miss Banerjee.”The PCC chief, however, added that he did not mind Miss Banerjee meeting Mrs Sonia Gandhi. “Any person can meet Mrs Gandhi,” he said. Supporting Miss Banerjee's demands on Singur, the Union minister said that the state government should have to execute the accord signed in presence of the Governor Mr Gopalkrishna Gandhi to resolve the Singur crisis.“The state government hurriedly published the package but failed to manage the overall situation,” he said adding: “Still 21 ancillary industries have not set up their units in the Nano project site. There is sufficient land left to be returned to the farmers unwilling to offer land for the project,” he claimed. The Union minister also said the Tata Motors should respond to the farmers’ demand and plight to resolve the Singur impasse. “I shall write a letter to Mr Ratan Tata soon pointing out the problems and offering proposals to resolve the crisis,” the minister, said. (END) Source : The Statesman