CM appeals Mamata to break her hunger strike

Kolkata, Dec 7: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today appealed to Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee to withdraw her indefinite hunger strike and sit for discussion.

Speaking at an interactive session of Infocom-2006 entitled ''Chief Minister's Round Table'', Mr Bhattacharjee said,'' I have repeatedly appealed to Ms Banerjee to give up her fast and sit for discussion with me. Today I am appealing to her again from this forum. '' Asked whether he would take law and order action against her, the Chief Minister said, '' I would not send police but I would repeatedly request her to break her hunger strike. '' '' I have spoken to Trinamool Congress Legislator Sougata Roy and asked him to request to Ms Banerjee to give up her strike. However, we will not allow anybody trying to deter the growth of the state and the industrialisation process. '' ''We have been successful in agriculture and now we are zeroing in on industrialisation, '' Mr Bhattacharjee stated and - iterated that everything would be alright at Singur within two to three days.

''We are sincerely trying to bring industry to our state. Though we will listen to our Opposition, but would not stop industrialisation in the state,'' he stated.

Meanwhile, Mr Bhattacharjee reacting to the victory in the byelection to Islampur Assembly seat said it was a mandate in favour of industrialisation of the state.

UNI