Progress in Bengal can't be held ransom to anybody's whims: Basu

Kolkata, Nov 26 (UNI) West Bengal Left Front Chairman Biman Basu today said industrial progress of the state will not be held ransom to anybody's whims.

Talking to the people after a meeting of the Left Front allies, Mr Basu said, ''We will hold a rally in Singur on November 29 to express our views on the issue.'' ''But I would like to make clear that progress in West bengal cannot be stopped because of anybody's whims,'' Mr Basu said referring to Trinamool Congress Supremo Mamata Benerjee, who said she would shed blood to stop the Tata Project at Singur.

On the issue of shedding blood, Mr Basu, taking a dig at Ms Banerjee, said ''We want her to stay healthy. If she wants to shed blood it should be at a blood donation camp on humanitarian grounds.'' Then he added, ''We called an all party meet and they didnt come.

I dont understand their policy.'' Mr Basu then went on to allege that most of the people who attended today's Singur Yatra by Mamata Banerjee were not from the place itself.

''Most of the people were from places like Kamarkundu. People from outside can have an opinion on Singur. But what is important is that people from Singur have an opinion on the issue. We cant mix the two,'' he said.

''If that happens we cannot get the real feedback. We are concerned with the opinions of the people from Singur. We are confident that the progressive people of West Bengal are with us,'' he said.

Mamata Banerjee and her supporters today cultivated potato at Singur.

UNI BA PP LL DB1959