Difficult to run govt with irresponsible oppn: Buddha

Kolkata, Dec 26: Even as Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee's hunger strike entered the 23rd day today, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said it was difficult to run a government with such an 'irresponsible opposition'.

Speaking at the 152nd Annual General Meeting of Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Chief Minister said, ''How can we run a government with an opposition like this? We had discussed about the Tata's small car project with all our allies and the opposition before starting the land acquisition in Singur.'' The Chief Minsister said, ''I cannot roll back on the decision of offering land to Tata Motors for setting up small car unit in Singur. I cannot tell Ratan Tata that we cannot give him land.

However, I want consensus of the issue as it is sending wrong message to the outer world.'' ''I am ready to discuss with Ms Banerjee if she withdraws her fast. I have already sent her two letters,'' he said.

Mr Bhattacharjee said, ''Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has also send an emissary to Ms Banerjee to withdraw here fast. But that did not yield any result.'' Speaking about land acquistion in Singur, he said the government has tried its best to avoid fertile land. ''Earlier, the plant was proposed to be set up in Kharagpur. Then Mr Tata wanted a location near Kolkata. We then showed him five to six location and Singur was selected by the company,'' he mentioned.

''Uttaranchal was our contender. But I personally requested Tata to set up the small car unit here. Now we cannot tell him that the government fails to give land there?'' he said, making it clear that the goverment will not budge from its decision of handing over the land to the Tatas as per schedule.

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee continued on her hunger strike for the 23rd day, having refused several dignitories including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and veteran Marxist Jyoti Basu among others.

From today Trinamool Congress is beginning their wildcat movement by which they will suddenly block roads and begin demonstration without any notice.

Mamata had already declared that she was not afraid of death, but will not end strike unless the forcibly acquired land were returned to the farmers and prohibitory orders repealed from Singur.

Mr Bhattacharjee has been urging the leader to come and sit for a dialogue with him and has already sent two letetrs to this effect.

UNI