The Hindu : National : Mamata seeks Centre’s intervention

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Wednesday, Oct 01, 2008
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Mamata seeks Centre’s intervention

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday suggested that the Central Government intervene in West Bengal in order to protect the interest of farmers in the State.

Ms. Banerjee, who met Congress president Sonia Gandhi here, told journalists that the Centre could not remain silent and that the State government could not unilaterally reject an agreement reached in the presence of the West Bengal Governor.

“There is a constitutional sanctity to it [the agreement]…it is better to use Article 355 against the State government, she said stating she had given copies of all relevant documents to Ms. Gandhi. These documents pertain to the Tata car project, copies of agreement and letters related to the event.

To a question, Ms. Banerjee said while her party was not against industries, it wants both industry and agriculture growing together instead of growing at the cost of each other.

The Trinamool leader said Ms. Sonia Gandhi gave her a patient hearing and told Ms. Banerjee that she too was sympathetic to the cause of agricultural labour.

Ms. Banerjee said that the Congress president wanted that matter to amicably resolved. She said she would meet President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the second week of October.

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