Singur: Left Front puts ball in Centre's court

The CPI(M)-led Left Front today distanced itself from taking any decision on Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's demand that the land acquired for the Tata Motors' project in Singur be returned. The Front put the ball in the West Bengal government's court.

"The Left Front can only suggest, but it is not within its jurisdiction to instruct the West Bengal government what it should do with regard to the demands (made by Mamata during her meeting with Basu) on the Singur project," chairman Biman Bose told newspersons after a meeting of the Front here.

Bose, also the state secretary of the CPI(M), said the Left Front welcomed the June 4 meeting between Basu and Mamata, but insisted that the state government would take whatever steps needed in the light of what transpired during the talks.

"The demands raised have to be discussed with the state government," he said.

If the opposition wanted a discussion, Basu said the state government was ready to talk as the Chief Minister had said so several times earlier.

Mamata had made her position more specific yesterday. A total of 402 acre owned by farmers at Singur from whom land had been taken without consent would have to be returned, she said.

Asked if the Front stand meant the end to initiatives started following the Basu-Mamata talks, Bose said, "I cannot say whether that it is an end as such or not, since there was no discussion (on the Singur issue) at today's meeting."

Asked whether the state government would take the initiative for holding talks with Mamata, the Front chairman said, "Nothing has been decided as yet."

Responding to a query whether Basu would hold another round of discussion with Mamata, he said, "There has been no discussion on this. But there could be discussions between the government and Mamata Banerjee. whose party is the main opposition party in the state."

Referring to the situation at Nandigram, he said the people who fled their homes following violence were returning, irrespective of party affiliations. "This was because the peace process has started in Nandigram and adjoining areas."

Though Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee was present at the meeting, Basu could not attend as he was unwell, Bose said.

The Trinamool chief had yesterday announced a two-phase nationwide agitation against farmland acquisition for industry.

Basu had said yesterday that the state government was working out a proposal to find a solution to the issue.

The CPI(M) patriarch admitted that there was not much alternative land in Singur. Alternative land was available elsewhere, but why should landlosers go there, he had said.