Prime Minister leaves after 18-hour WB tour

Kolkata, Dec 24: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today left for Delhi after an 18-hour visit to West Bengal.

He was seen off at the airport by Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi and Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

During his short stay, the Prime Minister laid the foundation for the 2.5 million tonne expansion programme of the Indian Iron and Steel Company(IISCO) at Burnpur.

He also addressed the platinum jubilee celebration of the Indian Statistical Institute here.

Dr Singh also sent an emissary to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who is on a hunger strike for three weeks protesting against the land acquisition for the Tata's small car project in Singur.

UNI