Mamata courts arrest in law violation

Kolkata, Nov 29 (UNI) Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee courted arrest in a law violation programme in the city today in protest against the acquisition of agricultural land for the Tata Motors' small car project.

About 800 partymen, including MLAs and Kolkata Corporation Councillors, were arrested while breaking the prohibitory orders in the Esplanade east area, close to the Raj Bhavan and state Assembly.

However, all the arrested, including Ms Banerjee, were later let off after being taken to the Presidency Jail.

Earlier, reaffirming her pledge to continue the movement against acquisition of farm land in West Bengal, Ms Banerjee threatened to hit the street against the Tatas if they failed to shift the small car project from Singur in Hooghly district.

''If you force your way to set up the factory on the fertile land of Singur, my party will take to the street branding you 'anti-poor and anti-people', she said while addressing a rally before the law violation programme.

The party programme was part of its 'non-cooperation movement' against the Left Front Government.

Alleging that West Bangal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was acting ''arrogant ''in endangering the livelihood of farmers, she said the government was ''hoodwinking'' the people in the name of industry as the state had witnessed no progress and the poor were left in the lurch.

'' We have a Stalinist Chief Minister who has the arrogance to infringe on the right to property of the people and their livelihood, she added.

The Trinamool leader alleged the government was handing out distorted facts as it had not been able to acquire 535 acre out of the required area of 997 acre of land so far due to the peasants a resistance.

Ms Banerjee's rally coincided with the meeting, called by the ruling Left Front at Singur for a campaign among the local people in favour of industry.

In what may be described as a counter to the Left rally, the Trinamool Congress and its allies will hold a meeting at Singur tomorrow followed by a protest march.

UNI KDG SJC AB PA RN1923