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Singur compensation highest in India: Basu

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: Veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu, on Sunday, said there are legal obstacles in returning the land acquired for the Tata Motors project at Singur, without the consent of their owners, as is being demanded by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee. He, however, said the alternative worked out by the State Government ensures the peasants a better option.

While addressing a rally in the Baguihati area here Mr. Basu said returning the acquired land was not possible because of a Supreme Court ruling. He also said, "nowhere in India was the compensation that has been offered the peasants who have given away their land [for the project] higher."

Alternative proposal

The State's Industries Minister, Nirupam Sen, had worked out an alternative proposal in the wake of Ms. Banerjee's demands and had been asked to place it before the Left Front committee.

Mr. Basu referred to his June 4 meeting with Ms. Banerjee where the Singur project and the initiative for restoration of peace in Nandigram was discussed. She had demanded that land at Singur be returned. "But will industrialists come to the State if the wall [that has been built around the project site] is torn down?" asked Mr. Basu.

"A major opportunity has come for development in the State; let us not allow it slip away. At such a time we seek the support of the Opposition. But how they decide I do not know. A misinformation regarding Singur and Nandigram has been spread by the Opposition."

After a meeting of the Left Front leaders here on Saturday, Biman Bose, chairman of the Left Front committee, said any discussions concerning the Singur project would have to be held with the State Government.

He recalled that Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had made repeated offers to the Opposition for talks on the project.

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