By Marcus Dam
Indications of progress towards holding talks on Singur
Kolkata: Indications were available on Monday of some progress towards holding of talks to resolve the standoff between the Trinamool Congress leadership and the West Bengal government over the Tata Motors project at Singur.
Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee welcomed Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi’s suggestion that “a person with no political or industrial affiliations” be invited as an “unbiased mediator” in the matter.
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee urged the Governor to take the initiative for talks “in which we will take part for the sake of an immediate solution” to the controversy over acquisition of land for the project.
She sent an emissary to Mr. Gandhi – for the second time in two days — in response to his suggestion mentioned in a letter to her dated August 29.
“We are willing to sit for discussions as long as they are positive,” she later told her supporters outside the project site at Singur, where the agitation, led by her party demanding the return of 400 acres of land it claims was forcibly acquired from local peasants for the setting up of the project, entered its ninth day.
“The talks will have to be on the issue of handing back of the land in question…the agitation will continue till the demand is met”, Ms. Banerjee said. “Let there be discussions and let there be industry as well as agriculture,” she added. Mr. Bhattacharjee spoke to Mr. Gandhi and expressed his “support to the contents of the letter.”
“Asked about my reaction to the letter I told the Governor that it is positive. I thanked him for the initiative he was taking; just the way I am seeking discussions with the Opposition to arrive at a solution. I am definitely willing to sit for talks if the Governor’s efforts to arrange for them pay off,” Mr. Bhattacharjee said.
Work continued to remain suspended at the Tata Motors project site in view of the indefinite agitation being led by the Trinamool Congress.
“The conditions in Singur are still not conducive for resuming work. We continue to assess the situation closely,” a spokesperson of Tata Motors said. Employees of the company and contract workers have not been attending duty since August 29.
The Chief Minister said that efforts were also on to convene an all-party meeting on the stalemate at Singur.
Videocon Group chairman Venugopal Dhoot, who met Mr. Bhattacharjee earlier in the day, said that it was the responsibility of the Tata Group to step in and settle outstanding issues “with the farmers directly.”
Biman Bose, Chairman of the Left Front Committee, addressing a rally here, emphasised the need for arriving at a solution through discussions. “The State government has the responsibility of looking after the interests of the (affected) farmers” and any proposal the Opposition may have regarding their future should be put on the discussion table, he said.
Ms. Banerjee reiterated that her movement was “peaceful and will continue even though there is an urgent need for an immediate solution.”
She addressed a rally in support of the interests of small retailers who, she has been claiming, are being threatened by the move of the government to bring in big capital in the retail sector. Sources : The Hindu
Indications of progress towards holding talks on Singur
Kolkata: Indications were available on Monday of some progress towards holding of talks to resolve the standoff between the Trinamool Congress leadership and the West Bengal government over the Tata Motors project at Singur.
Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee welcomed Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi’s suggestion that “a person with no political or industrial affiliations” be invited as an “unbiased mediator” in the matter.
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee urged the Governor to take the initiative for talks “in which we will take part for the sake of an immediate solution” to the controversy over acquisition of land for the project.
She sent an emissary to Mr. Gandhi – for the second time in two days — in response to his suggestion mentioned in a letter to her dated August 29.
“We are willing to sit for discussions as long as they are positive,” she later told her supporters outside the project site at Singur, where the agitation, led by her party demanding the return of 400 acres of land it claims was forcibly acquired from local peasants for the setting up of the project, entered its ninth day.
“The talks will have to be on the issue of handing back of the land in question…the agitation will continue till the demand is met”, Ms. Banerjee said. “Let there be discussions and let there be industry as well as agriculture,” she added. Mr. Bhattacharjee spoke to Mr. Gandhi and expressed his “support to the contents of the letter.”
“Asked about my reaction to the letter I told the Governor that it is positive. I thanked him for the initiative he was taking; just the way I am seeking discussions with the Opposition to arrive at a solution. I am definitely willing to sit for talks if the Governor’s efforts to arrange for them pay off,” Mr. Bhattacharjee said.
Work continued to remain suspended at the Tata Motors project site in view of the indefinite agitation being led by the Trinamool Congress.
“The conditions in Singur are still not conducive for resuming work. We continue to assess the situation closely,” a spokesperson of Tata Motors said. Employees of the company and contract workers have not been attending duty since August 29.
The Chief Minister said that efforts were also on to convene an all-party meeting on the stalemate at Singur.
Videocon Group chairman Venugopal Dhoot, who met Mr. Bhattacharjee earlier in the day, said that it was the responsibility of the Tata Group to step in and settle outstanding issues “with the farmers directly.”
Biman Bose, Chairman of the Left Front Committee, addressing a rally here, emphasised the need for arriving at a solution through discussions. “The State government has the responsibility of looking after the interests of the (affected) farmers” and any proposal the Opposition may have regarding their future should be put on the discussion table, he said.
Ms. Banerjee reiterated that her movement was “peaceful and will continue even though there is an urgent need for an immediate solution.”
She addressed a rally in support of the interests of small retailers who, she has been claiming, are being threatened by the move of the government to bring in big capital in the retail sector. Sources : The Hindu
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