Court verdict on Singur a Government defeat : Mamata

Kolkata, Feb 14(UNI) Describing the Calcutta High Court order that struck down the prohibitory orders in Singur as a defeat of the state government, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee today demanded that the Chief Minister relinquish his Home portfolio and the Tatas abandon their small car project in the area.

"The court order has proved that the government misinterpreted and misused the law to clamp 144 Cr P C and commit atrocities on the villagers in pushing through the small car project. It is time that Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee gives up the Home portfolio, the Tatas retract from Singur and the land is given back to farmers," she told newsmen.

Ms Banerjee alleged that by imposing 144 Cr P C, the government had curbed all fundamental rights of the people and indulged in 'state sponsored terrorism'. "But after the court order no more should it go ahead with the project to be spared from further embarrassment," she said.

Setting aside the prohibitory order, promulgated in Singur, about 40 km west of Kolkata, Justice Dipankar Dutta of Calcutta High Coiurt observed that the way it was imposed did not confirm to the law and it was a case bad in law and misuse of power.

The ruling was given on a public interest litigation filed by the Committee for protection of agricultural land.

The district administration of Hooghly had promulgated the prohibitory order on February 4 fearing large scale violence after political parties clashed with police during work for fencing the acquired land for the small car project.

However, denying any misuse of power, Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray said the government was seeking legal advice following the court ruling.

"The imposition of prohibitory order in Singur was justificed and there was no misuse of power. We are seeking legal advice on the matter," he told reporters.

But claiming that the court order had freed the Singur people from 'shackles', a jubilant Ms Banerjee announced that the Trinamool-led 'Paschimbanga Krishi Jami Raksha Committee' would hold a 'thanks giving' rally at Singur on February 17 to express its gratitude to the judiciary.

UNI