Buddhadeb invites Mamata for talks on Tata small car project

Kolkata, Aug 18 (UNI) Holding out an olive branch once again, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today invited Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee for talks to break the political stalemate over the Tata Motors' small car project at Singur.

''I am extending this invitation to reach an acceptable solution to the issue through discussion, '' Mr Bhattacharjee said in the letter, highlighting the importance of the project.

He said either he or Industry Minister Nirupam Sen would hold negotiations with Ms Banerjee or any of her representatives.

Though acknowledging that she had received the letter, that came six days before her proposed indefinite dharna at Singur, Ms Banerjee maintained that there would be no let up in her agitation unless 400 out of the total 950 acre of land, acquired for the project, were returned to the farmers.

'' There would be no talks unless land is returned to the farmers, '' she said.

The Trinamool chief had been alleging that at least 400 acre of land had been forcibly acquired by the Government.

At least twice in the past, the Chief Minister had inivted Ms Banerjee for dialogues to remove the stumbling block before the small car project.

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