The people of West Bengal wanted the Tata Motors small car project at Singur and the state government was hopeful about it, Industry minister Nirupam Sen said today.
"You told me and I heard it. Now you decide," was the initial reaction of Sen when reporters asked him about Ratan Tata's statement that Tata Motors would pull out if the violence and agitation continued at Singur.
He said that the people of the state wanted the 'Nano' car project and Tata also knew it.
The Industry minister said that the small car project could not come up if 400 acre was returned as demanded by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee.
Sen who had discussed the Singur project with Tata here last night, said that the state government wanted to work out a solution and was was open for talks to find out an acceptable solution.
Appealing to Trinamool Congress, he said, "Let us work together and identify those families who might be facing hardship after losing their land at Singur. The state government is ready to provide them alternative livelihood."
"I also told the Tatas to come forward in this respect and they have agreed," the Industry Minister said.
