Tata's small car project cannot be allowed : Mamata

Singur, Jun 30 (UNI) Apprehending that the Left Front Government would 'manage' the ruling UPA at the Centre to hush up the CBI investigation into the Tapasi Malik murder case, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee reiterated that she would not allow the Tata Motors's small car project at Singur.

''The Left Government is trying to hush up the CBI probe by managing its friend UPA...but whatever pressure they might put, we shall continue movement pressing for the punishment of the guilty, '' she said while addressing a rally here a day after a CPI(M) leader was arrested in connection with the murder.

Alleging that Tapasi was a victim of the move for pushing ahead with the small car project, Ms Banerjee alleged that it was because of the Chief Minister that unrest surfaced in Singur and Nandigram and elsewhere in the state.

The rally was held after a 12-hour Singur bandh, called by the CPI(M) in protest against arrest of the party's zonal committee Secretary Suhrid Dutta passed off.

'' We want to know why the land has been given away to the Tatas at only Rs 235 crore. Today the work for the project remained stalled because of the 12-hour bandh called by the CPI(M). We want the project closes for ever, '' she said.

The charred body of 18-year-old Tapasi Malik was recovered from inside the project area on December 18 last year during the height of anti-land acquisition movement by the Trinamool Congress-led Opposition.

The Trinamool Congress had alleged that Tapasi, a member of the Singur Krishi Jami Raksha Committee, was raped and murdered by CPI(M) men to settle a political vendetta.

While conducting investigation, CBI arrested Suhrid Dutta yesterday in connection with the case following interrogation of Debu Malik, the prime suspect, who was nabbed earlier.

UNI