Mamata announces fresh stir at Singur, Nandigram

  • 30/05/2008

  • Tribune (New Delhi)

Mamata Banerjee has announced fresh agitations at Singur and Nandigam demanding action against Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, CPM secretary Biman Bose and senior party leader Benoy Konar who, she alleged, were responsible for Tapashi Mallick's killing at Singur and the carnage at Nandigram on March 14 when the police and CPM cadres gunned down 14 farmers. The Congress, which till now was not vocal on the issue, would also join the stir against the CPM. Even some of the partners of the Left Front have come out in support of the poor as RSP minister Kshiti Goswami has publicly welcomed the fresh agitation. Mamata said the results of panchayat elections at Singur and Nandigram had already reflected the people's hatred and indignation against the CPM. The report of the Amnesty International published yesterday also acknowledged the amount of injustice and atrocities committed by the ruling CPM in the name of restoring the rule, she said. She said it was now their duty to fight for the landless victims at Singur and Nandigam by punishing the guilty. Mamata will be visiting Singur on Sunday and Nandigram on Wednesday. Mamata demanded that the 400 acres of land at Singhur, which was "forcibly acquired for Tata Motors', should be returned to the owners immediately. Meanwhile, Jyoti Basu criticised Mamata for making an absurd demand. But the compensation of the "unwilling farmers' could be increased, he said. State industries minister Nirupam Sen said he was ready for talks with the affected people and also their leaders but in no case the lands already acquired and handed over to Tata Motors could be returned to the "owners'.