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Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008
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People betrayed, alleges Mamata

Raktima Bose

“State government went back on gentleman’s agreement”

— Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

UNRELENTING: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee during a protest rally in front of the Tata Motors’ small car project at Singur on Tuesday.

SINGUR: “We will throw the rehabilitation package [for farmers whose land was acquired for the Tata Motors project] of the Left Front government into the dustbin,” declared Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee at a rally here on Tuesday.

The rally was held a day after the Left Front organised a procession here in support of the new package.

Ms. Banerjee accused the government of “betraying” the people by going back on the “gentleman’s agreement” arrived at with the Opposition in Kolkata on September 7 in the presence of Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi. She reiterated her demand for the return of 300 acres within the project area to farmers from whom the land was “forcibly acquired.”

“We do not support the package and will decide on our future course of action after discussion with the Governor on September 19,” Ms. Banerjee said. Her next move could lead to a resumption of the agitation that was suspended following the consensus reached at the September 7 meeting.

The Trinamool leader pointed out that the package was a “unilateral decision,” which was made without consulting her party or the Governor.

She said: “We agreed to discuss the matter with the government because the Governor requested us to do so; it is the first time in 30 years of the Left Front rule that the government entered into a deal with the Opposition in the presence of the Governor and that has been dishonoured by it.”

The scene at the rally venue, by the side of the Durgapur Expressway opposite the Tata Motors small car factory site, was reminiscent of the one of the Trinamool “siege” of the project area.

“I am not opposed to the Tata plant. The main plant can be set up on 600 acres and the ancillary units on 100 acres, but we want the rest 300 acres back at any cost,” Ms. Banerjee asserted.

Her statement, “If the government cannot solve the problem, it should quit,” drew loud cheers.

Ms. Banerjee presented three ‘unwilling’ farmers on the dais in response to the claims of the Left Front leaders here on Monday that most such farmers are willing to accept the new package. However, five farmers who had not yet received compensation, filed petitions at the district magistrate’s office to avail themselves of the new package.

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