CPM blinks on Singur too, may return land - Yahoo! India News

CPM blinks on Singur too, may return land - Yahoo! India News


CPM blinks on Singur too, may return land

By IE
Wednesday June 6, 02:34 AM Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and the ruling CPI(M) indicated on Tuesday that the government is seriously considering Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's demand of returning land at Singur to farmers who are not willing to sell their holdings for Tata Motors' small-car project.
After a statement at Writers' Buildings, Bhattacharjee and Commerce and Industries Minister Nirupam Sen called on Jyoti Basu at his residence in Salt Lake. Land and Land Reforms Minister Abdur Rezzak Mollah joined this meeting together with CPI(M) State Secretary Biman Bose.
Party sources said the CPI(M) as well as the government want an amicable solution to the lingering problems at Singur.
They said Mollah's presence indicated the government is seriously considering the demand of returning some land. "A partial return of land to unwilling farmers cannot be ruled out," a senior leader told The Indian Express.
Bhattacharjee, taking the cue from Monday's surprise meeting between Mamata and former Chief Minister Basu, told reporters at Writers' Buildings on Tuesday that the government is open to talks over realigning the land acquired to accommodate farmers who have refused to take their compensation cheques because they do not want to sell.
"The discussions with Mamata were good. I spoke to Basu this morning and will talk to him again," Bhattacharjee said. Asked if land would be returned, Bhattacharjee said this would be chalked out by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirupam Sen.
As for Mamata's demand that the government return around 300 acres to 400-odd farmers who have refused to accept their cheques, the Chief Minister said: "I cannot say now whether it is 300 acres or 200 acres, I need to know the details from Sen before I speak on this."
Although the government acquired around 997 acres for the project last year, some villagers are still holding out and organising sporadic protests.
Bhattacharjee said he would take the issue further after getting to know the details of the Basu-Mamata meeting and her specific demands.
He said the Singur move would also further the peace process at Nandigram, where violent opposition by farmers since January has forced the government to drop plans to acquire a much larger area of 10,000 acres for a chemical hub and a special economic zone (SEZ).
The Chief Minister stated that he was open to talks.
Meanwhile, in Kalighat, Mamata was keeping tabs on the fallout of her talks with Basu.
When contacted by The Indian Express, she said: "A process is under way and I shall not comment now. Wait till tomorrow."