No let-up in Singur movement despite peace initiative for Nandigram

Singur, May 25 (UNI) Making clear that the Singur movement would be on despite the peace move for Nandigram, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today threatened to pull down the boundary wall for the small car factory if the project was not withdrawn.

" If the Tatas do not want to be blacklisted, they must wind up the small car project at Singur. Otherwise the farmers will demolish the wall in a social, political and humanitarian movement, " she said.

Ms Banerjee, who visited Panskura during the day on campaign for the Assembly byelection in the East Midnapore town, was here for some time to attend a protest rally with the body of Prosanto Das, a local farmer, who had allegedly committed suicide following acquisition of his farm land for the small car project.

The rally was held close to the wall of the project area, guarded by a strong contingent of police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) jawans, as leaders of the Trinamool Congress-led Krishi Jami Raksha Committee held the Government responsible for the death.

Ms Banerjee, who did not address the 1000-strong gathering, later alleged to the reporters that both in Nandigram and Singur farmers were being put to death because of the Left Front Government's policy.

" In Nandigram farmers are being killed by police bullets, while in Singur they are forced by the Government to die of starvation. The Government has to give back land to the Singur farmers. Or else, we shall not take responsibility for the consequences - this is my ultimatum, " she said.

Ms Banerjee, who questioned the West Bengal Government's intention behind land acquisition, asked why farmers were not getting back their land in Singur when it could happen in Marxist-ruled Kerala.

The Trinamool leader walked out of an all-party peace meeting on Nandigram yesterday. Krishi Jami Raksha Committee leader Becharam Manna, who was one of the Trinamool Congress representatives in the all-party meeting, addressed today's protest rally, among others.

Tension prevailed in the area close to the Tata Motors' small car project site here today after the body of Prosanto Das, a local farmer, was found hanging inside a cowshed in his residential premises.

Mr Manna alleged that Das, who had to part with his agricultural land for the proposed car factory, had been suffering from depression.

" He had been out of livelihood for about a year after his agricultural land was acquired. Being a member of the anti-land acquisition movement, he refused to accept any compensation from the government, " he said.

UNI