Kalam asks PM to help break Singur deadlock

President APJ Abdul Kalam today asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene and not allow the Singur issue to persist in the present manner.

Kalam spoke to Singh after an NDA delegation, led by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee met him and expressed concern over the deteriorating health of Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, whose fast over acquisition of farm land for a Tata Motors plant in Singur entered its 25th day today. After Kalam's call, the prime minister is understood to have written to Banerjee, urging her to end her fast.

According to NDA leaders, Vajpayee requested the President to "personally intervene" in the matter.

The President intervention may put the prime minister in a spot as the Left is the UPA government's ally at the Centre and political rival in West Bengal. Till now, the Centre had been content to let the Left government handle matters. The President's call may change that.

"The NDA delegation told the President that Banerjee's health had deteriorated and that her life was in danger," BJP President Rajnath Singh said.

The President told the NDA leaders that he had expressed concern about Banerjee's health to Bhattacharjee on two occasions, the latest being this morning. Kalam also appealed to Banerjee to end her fast.

"After the President spoke, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee asked that the President should intervene to save Banerjee's life," said Singh.

"For us it is important that Banerjee is safe. We want the government of West Bengal to take the steps necessary for this. It does not seem to want to do anything," said Singh.

Singh did not spare the UPA government at the Centre. "The prime minister visited West Bengal. Could he not have influenced matters?

The government at the Centre is supported by the Left. If the UPA were to say something, the government in West Bengal would have to take notice," he said.

The NDA denied that Vajpayee would travel to Kolkata to visit Banerjee. According to party functionaries, Vajpayee's health does not permit him to travel.