Resuming movement Mamata says Tata bye bye

Kolkata, Jan 29: Back in the movement exactly a month after she called off her hunger strike, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today virtually ruled out any talks with the Government on the Singur issue while giving a ten-day ultimatum for shifting the small car project from Singur.

Alleging that the people had been 'cheated and decieved' the way the Tata project was being pushed through, Ms Banerjee announced a string of agitational programmes for a major showdown with the Government.

"I will join negotiations with the Government, if called. But before that it must give back the acquired land to the Singur farmers and maintain a status quo," she told reporters after a strategy meeting of the 'Singur Krishi Jami Raksha Committee' in the premises of her residence.

The Trinamool leader, who was discharged from a city nursing home on January 18 after a treatment following her 25-day fast, was convalescing in her home on the advise of doctors. But she announced that she would be soon back in action by participating in a march to Nandigram programme on February four.

"I give ten days time to the Government and the Tatas to think for shifting the Singur project to some fallow land. If they do not listen to us, the ball will not be in my court. We will march to Singur on February ten and say Tata, bye bye," she warned.

Comprising 19 organisations, the committee, which was rechristened 'Paschimbanga Krishi Jami Raksha Committee',also decided to organise a march to Bhangar, the site for the proposed SEZ of the Indonesian Salim group in South Twentyfour Parganas district on February 12 and another to Barasat in North Twentyfour Parganas district on February 18.

Ms Banerjee also called for a mass rally in the city's Brigade Parade Ground sometime in March.

Alleging that the Tatas were 'arrogant' in continuing with the process of setting up the small car factory, she questioned why the Government should offer a particular company certain benefits in a 'discrimination' to other houses.

In a bid for taking the anti-land acquisition movement beyond Singur, the committee, comprising 19 organisations, led by the Trinamool Congress, was renamed 'Paschimbanga Krishi Jami Raksha Committee'.

Giving a free hand to all the constituents to conduct respective agitational programmes every day, she announced that the committee would observe tomorrow as a protest day against yesterday's police lathi charge on processionists who had tried to enter Singur by violating prohibitory orders.

While demonstrations would be held in all district headquarters on February two, a grand procession would be taken out in the city the next day demanding that the Government give back the farmers land and withdraw prohibitory orders from Singur.

UNI

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