The Hindu : Front Page : Trinamool moots ‘alternative proposal’

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Monday, Aug 25, 2008
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Trinamool moots ‘alternative proposal’

Marcus Dam

KOLKATA: Amid elaborate security arrangements, the Trinamool Congress and its allies on Sunday launched an indefinite agitation outside the Tata Motors’ car project site at Singur in West Bengal’s Hooghly district.

“The ‘satyagraha’ will continue till 400 acres allegedly acquired for the project without the consent of their owners is handed back to them,” Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said.

“We do not want the Tatas to wind up the factory at Singur; we want it to come up on 600 acres while the 400 acres forcibly acquired is handed back to their owners. By doing so, you [the Tatas] will stay, as will others [the peasants]. You live and let others live, you smile and let others smile,” she said.

While demanding that the State government respond to the demands of the agitation and come up with a solution, she suggested an “alternative proposal” for setting up the ancillary units to the car manufacturing plant instead of within the project site. “There lies 500 acres of land opposite the site, which is a low-lying area and presently owned by Communist Party of India (Marxist) promoters. I have now given you an alternative [to consider].”

Addressing a large gathering from a dais near the main gate of the project site, Ms. Banerjee urged her supporters to “keep the agitation peaceful.”

“This agitation is not one to break walls…do not even glance at the wall. If anyone tries to break down the wall we will have nothing to do with the person. None of us will go home for as long as the agitation lasts. It will carry on through the day and the night and arrangements for food made,” she said.

A large section of the congregation squatted on the normally busy Durgapur Expressway that remained closed to traffic. More than 2,000 policemen were deployed both inside and outside the project area. Most of them, however, did not carry any firearms.

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