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Congress, Trinamool take out rally

Special Correspondent

Congress extends support to bandh called by Trinamool on October 9

DEMONSTRATION: Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee at a rally in Kolkata on Wednesday. — Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

Kolkata: Leaders of the Congress and the Trinamool Congress closed ranks here on Wednesday to hold a rally in protest against the State Government's move to acquire agricultural land at Singur in Hooghly district.

They also condemned the police action against Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee at a demonstration in Singur on Monday.

Tata Motors proposes to set up an automobile manufacturing plant at Singur village.

To continue agitation

Present at the rally were Ms. Banerjee, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priyaranjan Dasmunsi and other senior leaders. They vowed to continue their agitation against the State's move "to dispossess farmers of their land for the car project."

The agitation includes a State bandh on October 9, called by the Trinamool and supported by the Congress.

Asked for his comments on the opposition to the project, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee told newspersons, "God forgive them for they know not what they do."

Meanwhile, Industries Minister Nirupam Sen said Tata Motors had given an assurance that vocational training would be provided to one member of each family, whose land was being acquired for the proposed project. Though there was no guarantee of jobs at the plant for all those affected, there was scope for their involvement in the construction of infrastructural facilities, he added.

Rajnath's criticism

In a statement in New Delhi, BJP president Rajnath Singh criticised the West Bengal Government for the "inhuman treatment" meted out to Ms. Banerjee by the police.

The incident took place when Ms. Banerjee was staging a peaceful dharna against forcible land acquisition at Singur, he said and expressed solidarity with Ms. Banerjee and the farmers in whose support she was protesting.

The BJP State unit has also condemned the police action.

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