Govt invites Mamata for Singur talks
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01/08/2008
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Asian Age (New Delhi)
BY PARWEZ HAFEEZ and DIBYAJYOTI CHAUDHURI
Kolkata,July 31: A day after Tata Motors' managing director Ravikant expressed serious concerns over the continuing disturbances around Nano's plant at Singur and warned that their patience was running out, the state government invited Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee for talks. She contemptuously rejected the invitation.
It is the Trinamul Congress-led Save Farmland Committee which has threatened that it would not allow the Tatas to roll out Nano in October as planned.
Ms Banerjee has already announced that she would launch a sustained blockade of the automobile plant from August 20.
The Trinamul Congress leader has received support from an unlikely quarter in her agitation: Samwajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh on Wednesday offered his party's support in her Singur fight.
Reacting sharply to Mr Ravikant's statement, Ms Banerjee said, "I do not care whether his patience is running out or not. What I am concerned about is the interests of the farmers whose land have been forcibly acquired for the small car project."
Reiterating her stand, she ruled out negotiations with the government unless 400 acres of land was returned to the unwilling farmers. State industry minister Nirupam Sen said that it was not possible because a Supreme Court order has made it clear that the government could return acquired land.