Mamata Banerjee calls off hunger strike

Kolkata, Dec 29: Trinamool Congress Supremo Mamata Banerjee yesterday night called off her 25-day-long hunger strike following appeals by President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

''I am withdrawing the hunger strike at the request of the Presidnent and the Prime Minister, who have telephoned me not to continue'', she said after her party colleague met in a long discussion following a letter from Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya to call-off the 25-day-long fasting.

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 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.

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 the 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.

Former Chief Minister and CPI(M) patriarch Jyoti Basu urged and expressed serious concern over her deteriorating health.

''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.

UNI