Kolkata: A glimmer of hope appeared on the Singur horizon as Trinamool Congress agreed for talks to settle the vexed land seizure issue that roiled the political and industry circles and threatened to derail the October rollout plan of the world's cheapest car Nano. However, Tata Motors kept work suspended in the plant for the fifth day on Tuesday.
Trinamool Congress activists along with a section of farmers are holding up work in the factory for the past five days but with party chief Mamata Banerjee softening her stand and agreeing for talks urging Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi to play a mediator.
Mamata Banerjee on Monday sent Leader of the Opposition Partha Chatterjee to the Governor with whom he was closeted for about an hour. The Trinamool chief said it was explained to the Governor that the agitators would also be represented by lawyers and technical experts in any dialogue on the issue.
"We are hopeful of a solution. Our doors are open now," Partha Chattopadhayay said.
"We would like the honourable governor, who talked to us yesterday, to take the initiative for talks on Singur, in which we will take part since we want an immediate solution to the issue," Mamata said on Monday evening while addressing supporters of the siege outside the Nano plant.
"If the governor takes the initiative to break the impasse, we will go…. if the discussion is positive. It is because of the negative attitude of the government that the Singur crisis has reached the present stage," she added.
The CPI-M is also showing signs of relenting.
Left Front chairman Biman Bose said the government is ready for unconditional talks, including the debate over returning 400 acres.
The Left Front partners met on Tuesday to discuss the new situation.
"We from Left Front want a discussion to end the stalemate. But it seems things are going for a solution," a leader of Left Front said.
Of the total 997 acres of land acquired, about 400 acres is fiercely disputed since the owners of the plots refused compensation.
Thousands of workers stayed away from the Tata Motors plant for the fifth day on Tuesday in Singur as the indefinite siege to the factory by Trinamool Congress continued.
"Our workers will not be reporting to work today," a Tata Motors spokesperson said.
Tata Motors had initially planned to roll out Nano from Singur in October.
Last month, Tata Motors Chairman Ratan Tata said he was prepared to move the plant from Singur if violence continued, despite having invested $350 million in the project.
Tata Motors has since been flooded with offers from other Indian states for the Nano plant.
source:sify
Post Page Advertisement [Top]
Bottom Ad [Post Page]
