Mamata sticks to hunger strike: calls for intense movement

Kolkata, Dec 9 (UNI) In a battle of attrition with the West Bengal Government, Ms Mamata Banerjee called for intensifying her movement on the Singur issue, while the ruling Left Front again appealed to the Trinamool Chief to withdraw her indefinite hunger strike which continued for the sixth day today.

Declaring that she would continue fasting, Ms Banerjee announced agenda for a day-long mass hunger strike tomorrow and a mass assembly on Monday calling for participation by any individual or organisation opposed to acquisition of farm land at Singur for setting up of the proposed small car factory of Tata Motors at Singur in Hooghly district.

'' We need to broadbase the movement by mobilising the people's opinion against the Government's policy and its adamant attitude, '' she said.

Observing that Ms Banerjee should adopt any other form of movement, Left Front Chairman Biman Bose appealed to her to withdraw the hunger strike and hold talks with the Government on the contentious issue.

'' She should withdraw the hunger strike that is impairing her health and enter into a dialogue with the Government. We are not worried or scared over movement...she can take up any other form of movement, '' he said after an emergency meeting of the Front.

Mr Bose observed that the situation over the stand-off on the Singur issue was ''back to square one'' after the Trinamool leader imposed condition for talks with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and continued her hunger strike.

Yesterday, the Chief Minister wrote to Ms Banerjee, requesting her to withdraw the hunger strike and come to negotiations. In reply the Trinamool chief said she was ready for talks if the Government stopped acquisition of agricultural land at Singur and lifted the prohibitory orders in the area.

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