KOLKATA: With the indefinite hunger strike by Mamata Banerjee entering its 10th day here on Wednesday, the Trinamool Congress leadership called for a State-wide boycott of all products manufactured by the Tata Group of companies. This was in protest against the proposed setting up of the car manufacturing plant by Tata Motors at Singur in Hooghly district.

The announcement was marked by Trinamool supporters stomping on the company's plastic insignia, ripping off packets of tea and salt manufactured by it and strewing their contents on the manch where Ms. Banerjee is on fast.

All products covered

The boycott decision has given a new thrust to the Trinamool Congress protest which, so far, was against the State Government's moves towards alleged forcible acquisition of farmland for the proposed car manufacturing project. Trinamool Congress sources said the boycott would cover all Tata products from tea, salt, watches, telephones and mobile sets to automobiles.

Ms. Banerjee has also urged her supporters to observe Thursday — the day when Left trade unions have called for a nation-wide strike against the United Progressive Alliance Government's economic policies — as a "black day."

Over the past weeks, ever since Ms. Banerjee launched her campaign against the Singur project, she has maintained that she is neither against the Tata management nor against industrialisation in the State. She had even, in the course of rallies organised by her party, urged the Tata Motors management to seek an alternative site for their automobile project.

At a media gathering in Mumbai on Tuesday, Tata Motors managing director, Ravi Kant had reportedly said that his company remained "committed to Singur" despite the opposition to its proposed project from certain quarters.

Appeals in vain

Appeals to call off her hunger-strike and start a dialogue with the State Government on the Singur issue by Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and the Chairman of the Left Front committee, Biman Bose, have been turned down by Ms. Banerjee.

Manas Bhuniya, general secretary of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee, said his party was against Ms. Banerjee's call for boycott of Tata products even though it was opposed to forcible acquisition of farmland for industry.

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