CM offers land for land, Mamata adamant

Taking a different stand on rehabilitation of farmers who lost land to Tata Motors' small car plant in Singur, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said those who wanted to carry on with agriculture instead of taking up jobs would be provided land elsewhere.

"Nearly 95 per cent land-holders have voluntarily handed over their land," Bhattacharjee told reporters at the Writers' Building.

Bhattacharjee, who on earlier occasions had offered to talk to the Trinamool Congress on the rehabilitation issue, said not a single plot had been acquired by force.

Earlier, he climbed down from his earlier stand and agreed to a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of a girl inside the fenced area at Singur.

This, however, did not have any effect on Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee's decision to continue with her hunger-strike and call for a 48-hour general strike from December 21.

Bhattacharjee urged the Trinamool Congress to withdraw the strike saying he was ready for a CBI probe into the death of Tapasi Malik, whose body was found in the area that was fenced for the project.

Renewing his offer for talks with the Trinamool Congress, the chief minister said, "The Tata Motors' project will come up at Singur. The land has been handed over to the Tatas. They are now mapping the land."

He said the government would not apply force to make the Trinamool chief end her fast. He, however, ruled out relocating the project.

"I have already ordered a CID inquiry into the death of the girl in Singur and its impact. As demanded by the opposition, I also agree to a CBI inquiry into the incident, but after this decision, I urge the Trinamool leader to withdraw the 48-hour bandh," Bhattacharya said. "Our home secretary will write to the Union government for a CBI probe," he added.

However, the Trinamool chief said she would not withdraw the strike until the state government gave back the land it had acquired from the farmers.

Trinamool activists and Save Singur Committee members today squatted on the road in Esplanade, creating traffic snarls in the central business district.