LF patches up differences over land dispute for industry

Kolkata, Nov 3 (UNI) Mending fences among partners over Tata Motors' small car project, the ruling Left Front in West Bengal today resolved to maintain unity and bring in more transparency in acquisition of agricultural land.

Even as state Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee prevailed over vocal partners explaining his stand at a meeting, Front Committee Chairman Biman Basu admitted there was an information gap that triggered rumblings inside the coalition.

''There was an information gap which has been narrowed down...everybody has come to a consensus that it is necessary to maintain the Left unity and there must not be any act which will cause a rift,'' Mr Basu told reporters after more than two-hour long meeting.

Alleging that few companies and the 'reactionary force' were hatching a 'conspiracy' over allotment of land for the Tatas, Mr Basu asserted that the small car factory would be set up at Singur in Hooghly district and those opposing it would not succeed.

The Front meeting, which was attended among others, by veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu, was held following demand of smaller partners CPI and Forward Bloc for disclosure of the details of the deal with the Tatas.

While the Opposition Trinamool Congress had been carrying out a bitter campaign against the project alleging depletion of agricultural land, the criticism from within the ruling coalition had put the CPI(M)-led government in a spot.

However, the Front Chairman advised the partners to keep patience and not to speak out in public.

''The partners have to keep within the coalition whatever they have to say. We have to put thrust on more discussions among ourselves,'' Mr Basu said.

To a question on the compensation for the displaced farmers at Singur, Mr Basu said the way the Government had prepared the package would be a model in the country.

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