The Hindu : Front Page : Buddhadeb renews offer of talks

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Thursday, Dec 28, 2006
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Buddhadeb renews offer of talks

Staff Reporter

— Photos: PTI and Sushanto Patronobish

Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee on the 24th day of her indefinite hunger strike in Kolkata on Wednesday. Ms. Banerjee is on oxygen after she developed breathing problems on Tuesday.

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Kolkata : Even as Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee's health deteriorated further on Wednesday, the 24th day of her hunger strike, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee renewed his offer to hold talks and asked her to end the fast.

Examined

Ms. Banerjee's personal physician examined her and took blood samples for tests. She, however, spurned the State Government's aid offer in the form of an ambulance and a doctors' team.

Ms. Banerjee has been on fast in protest against ``forcible'' acquisition of land at Singur for a Tata car factory and the prohibitory order imposed there.

Change in economy

Addressing a public gathering at Siliguri in Darjeeling district, Mr. Bhattacharjee said Ms. Banerjee should keep in mind the State's interests.

Its economy would undergo a change if the Tatas set up a unit at Singur, he pointed out.

Earlier in the day, the former Assam Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, called on Ms. Banerjee.

People queue up to have a glimpse of the fasting leader.

Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi wrote another letter to Ms. Banerjee, expressing concern at her health and urging her to call off her fast.

Nirupam Sen, Industries Minister, expressed happiness at Tata Group chairman Mr. Ratan Tata's assertion that he would go ahead with the car project.

Mr. Tata said in an interview to a television channel that he would not consider relocating the factory.

`Unfortunate'

On Mr. Tata's suggestion that corporate rivalry was behind the opposition to the project, Mr Sen said that if it was true, it was unfortunate. In a competitive environment, every company had the right to develop its own products and introduce them in the market.

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