Basu warns Mamata against stalling the Nano car project

Kolkata, May 24 (UNI) Warning Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee against 'sabotaging' the Tata Motors' small car project at Singur, veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu today said any such move would send the message that the Opposition in West Bengal was against progress.

''If they stop work for the factory by sabotaging it, the people of the country will see that an opportunist alliance is doing all these things, that they do not want progress,'' he told reporters after attending the two-day state committee meeting of the CPI(M).

To a question on the renewed demand of Ms.Banerjee that the Left Front Government must give back to farmers 400 out of the total 997 acre of land, acquired for the Nano car project, Mr Basu wondered how then the factory could be set up.

'' I do not know how the land can be returned. In that case, it will not be possible to set up the factory. This cannot be done on whatever anybody says. She must spell out whether she wants the factory or not, '' he said.

Earlier, during the day, Ms Banerjee had alleged at a rally at Singur that the state Government had forcibly taken at least 400 acre of agricultural land from the local farmers and that must be returned before going ahead with the project.

The Singur factory is supposed to start production of the Country's first small car this year.

While producing an unexpected better result in the recently held three-tier Panchayat election in the state, the Trinamool Congress routed CPI(M) in areas like Singur and Nandigram.

In many areas the Trinamool Congress, Congress, SUCI and BJP party had a tacit seat adjustment to ensure that the non-CPI(M) votes were not split.

UNI KDG SJC SS2247