Mamata maintains fast status quo for another 24 hours

Kolkata,Dec 28 (UNI) Buying time for a respectable retreat,Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee today decided to continue her hunger strike yoday before taking a final decision in the next 24 hours to withdraw the fast, even as Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee once again sent a conciliatory letter to her.

"Though the condition of our leader is critical we will take another 24 hours so that a solution is evolved that will keep her honour and protect the interest of the farmars of Singur," Trinamool Congress leader Madan Mitra said after a prolonged meeting of the Singur Krishi Jami Raksha Committee, a conglomerate of 20 parties spearheading the agitation.

Remaining unmoved even after the fourth letter from Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee tonight refused to end her indefinite hunger strike.

Earlier, waving olive branch once again, the Chief Minister had sent the conciliatory letter to Ms Banerjee at her dharna manch promising to hold 'free discussions' on her allegations after she called off the fast.

He also assured in the letter that the Government would hold talks with the farmers, unwilling to give land for the proposed project, consider the demand for withdrawal of prohibitory orders in Singur and give importance on the opinions of the opposition on setting up of industries in future.

The condition of Ms.Banerjee, who had been lying on the dharna manch for the past two days, was stated to be 'critical'.

The Chief Minister also promised to give importance on the opinions of the opposition on setting up of industries in future. "Let us hope for the best," was his terse remark at reporters as efforts from different quarters to make the ailing Trinamool leader agree to call off the hunger strike repeatedly proved futile.

"I have sent a letter. Let us see...let us hope for the best," was the stoic remark of Mr Bhattacharjee, while leaving the state secretariat after waiting for a Trinamool decision. He, however, declined to spell out details of his letter.

However, the Ms Banerjee's colleagues, who were huddled in a discussion on the dharna manch to take a decision found it difficult to come to a consensus. They met thrice with intervals before announcing the final decision.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister had instructed Central authorities to extend whatever medical care was required for the Trinamool Congress supremo who had persistently refused any medical assistance from Government doctors saying she had no faith in the Left Front Government.

She was being attended by her family physicians and two party colleagues, who themselves are medical practitioners. Today a team of private doctors examined the Trinamool leader and advised her to take semi liquid food which she refused.

Expressing serious concern over her deteriorating health, former Chief Minister and CPI(M) patriarch Jyoti Basu urged Ms. Banerjee Banerjee to listen to doctors' advice and call off fasting.

Meanwhile, the Army kept ready a team of doctors to attend to Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee as her condition remained critical amidst speculations on a possible breakthrough of the deadlock even as Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee once again appealed to her to call off the hungerstrike.

"We have kept ready a team of army doctors to attend to Ms Banerjee as and when required by her or by her doctors," defence PRO (Eastern wing) R. N. Das told UNI.

EDS: Pick up suitably from earlier series.

UNI KDG-AKM BA SS2218