Mamata to continue fast for another 24 hours

Kolkata, Dec 28 (UNI) Buying time for a respectable retreat, Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee tonight decided to continue her hunger strike 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 farmers 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 the Chief Minister, the Trinamool Congress supremo 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 and consider the demand for withdrawal of prohibitory orders in Singur.

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.

''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 Trinamool's decision. He, however, declined to spell out details of his letter.

However, Ms Banerjee's colleagues, who had gathered for discussions 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, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh instructed Central authorities to extend whatever medical care was required for the Trinamool Congress supremo, whose fast entered the 25th day today.

She was being attended by her family physicians and two party colleagues, who 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 to listen to doctors' advice and call off fasting.

Meanwhile, the Army kept ready a team of doctors to attend to the Trinamool Congress Chief as her condition remained critical amidst speculations on a possible breakthrough of the deadlock.

''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.

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