WB: Basu-Mamata strike chord on Singur-Nandigram

Kolkata, June 5: CPI(M) patriarch Jyoti Basu and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee today agreed to continue talks for restoration of peace in Nandigram and look into the demand for giving back land to the Singur farmers.

In what turned out to be a positive one-to-one dialogue followed by public exchange of praises, Mr Basu accepted that the demands of the Trinamool leader should be considered while making her agree to cooperate in bringing back the 2,000-odd CPI(M) people, evicted in the wake of political violence in Nandigram.

''After talking to her, I feel that there is a solution. She does blare out fiery speeches, but I think her demands should be looked into she also wants peace and her attitude is good,'' he told reporters at a joint press conference with Ms Banerjee after the talks a first between the two at his Salt Lake residence.

The meeting, significant in the background of a failed all-party meet over Nandigram, was organised at a short notice after Mr Basu telephoned Ms Banerjee and she readily responded.

Ms Banerjee told the CPI(M) veteran that the Government must give back land to the 300 unwilling farmers whose plots were taken away for the small car factory and look for an alternative site for the project.

While agreeing that the evicted CPI(M) people should be brought back home, she also demanded that a CBI inquiry into the March 14 police firing in Nandigram be continued and the offenders punished.

''We do not do foolhardy politics. The people's demands should be met. I believe the people of Nandigram will get justice if Mr Basu takes personal initiative,'' Ms Banerjee said.

Describing the nonagenarian Marxist as the most senior leader in the country, Ms Banerjee said she had no qualms in joining further talks, if called by ''a leader like Mr Basu''.

''There is nothing more important than the fact that he realises what we say and wants peace to come back,'' she said.

Mr Basu assured the Trinamool leader that her demands would be taken up with the Government and the Tatas, executing the small car project in Singur and steps would be taken to stop attacks on Nandigram by CPI(M) cadres from the adjoining Khejuri.

''My partymen at Khejuri are hurling bombs and firing shots from pistols at Nandigram. I will ask the party to stop it immediately.

At the same time, I believe the Triamool leader would not put any hindrance to those driven out from home to come back,'' he said.

Describing Ms Banerjee as the most important opposition leader, Mr Basu reminded that while in the opposition, the Marxists had cooperated on several occasions with the then Chief Ministers like Bidhan Chandra Ray and P C Sen, who belonged to the Congress.

He said today's talks would be followed up by a meeting among Ms Banerjee, Left Front Committee Chairman Biman Basu, veteran Forward Bloc leader Ashok Ghosh and Housing Minister Rabin Deb to sort out differences and pave way for another all-party meeting over the Nandigram issue.

UNI

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