PM's visit assumes added significance following Singur row

Kolkata, Dec 23 (UNI) With the deadline drawing close for handing over Singur land to the Tatas, the two-day West Bengal visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may prove instrumental in ending the indefinite hunger strike of Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee and the standoff over the small car issue.

According to informed sources, the Prime Minister's Office had inquired with the state Government about the impasse following the Trinamool leader's fasting, while Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was eager to use Dr Singh's presence to overcome the problem.

After attempts even by Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi drew blanks, it was believed that Mr Bhattacharjee would urge the Prime Minister to use his good office to get the Trinamool chief to call off her fasting, which entered the 20th day.

Ms Banerjee started the hunger strike on December four, demanding that the small car site be shifted from Singur's agricultural land which the Chief Minister refused. However, in a shift from her earlier stand, the Trinamool leader later demanded that the Government return to the farmers a sizable chunk of the acquired land which had been ''forcibly taken away''.

It was believed that the Chief Minister will also make clear his Government's stand on Singur to the Prime Minister, said to be backing the cause for setting up the prestigious small car factory.

However, the Trinamool Congress will also submit a letter to Dr Singh calling for an amendment to the present land act to prevent acquisition of farm land and presenting papers to ''prove'' that land had been forcibly acquired from the local farmers.

The Prime Minister, who would arrive here tonight, would be received by the Chief Minister at the airport. He will spend the night at the Raj Bhavan before attending an IISCO programme at Burnpur in Bardhaman district and the Platinum jubilee celebrations at ISI, Baranagar in the city tomorrow.

UNI KDG SJC MIR RN1958