Left welcomes Mamata's decision to defer 48-hour Bangla bandh

Kolkata, Dec 20 (UNI) Left Front Chairman Biman Bose today heartily welcomed Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee's decision to ''defer'' the 48-hour ''Bangla bandh'' from tomorrow.

Speaking to newsmen here soon after Ms Banerjee announced her decision to temporarily call off the two-day bandh, the Front Chairman said, '' We welcome her decision as it has come as a great relief to all and sundry. '' He also hoped Ms Banerjee would also immediately withdraw her indefinite fast, which entered the 17th day today.

Referring to his appeal to the Trinamool Congress chief yesterday to come to a negotiating table and discuss the Singur issue face to face with the Chief Minister with a view to removing all her doubts, Mr Bose said instead she sent another letter to the Chief Minister this morning to which Mr Bhattacherjee had already replied.

He said besides the Chief minister, leaders of all the Left Front constituensts had requested her to withdraw the indefinite fast and come to the negotiating table.

Coming down heavily on today's assault on a section of television journalists by some alleged Trinamool Congress supporters near Ms Banerjee's dharna manch here, the Front Chairman was categorical in stating that no political party or their supporters had any right to assault working journalists at any point of time.

When his attention was drawn towards the possibility of shifting the government and the Left parties' stand on the Singur issue, Mr Bose replied in the nagative and made it clear that they had no plan in this regard. '' The question does not arise at all, '' he clarified.

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