The Hindu Business Line : Mamata put on oxygen

On the 23rd day of her hunger strike in protest against the acquisition of multi-crop farmland for the Tata small car project in Singur, Trinamool Congress leader Ms Mamata Banerjee was put on oxygen by personal doctors attending on her. However, a team of government doctors sent by the State Government to check on Ms Banerjee's health was not allowed to enter the site of Ms Banerjee's agitation.

Doctors attending on Ms Banerjee said her pulse rate had gone down and she was suffering from respiratory problems.

Despite requests from all quarters, Ms Banerjee has refused to call off her fast and agitation unless the State Government commits to return to farmers land that has been acquired forcibly for the Tata project.

Non-negotiable

The State Government, however, has consistently maintained that the issue of land acquisition in Singur for the Tata project was non-negotiable.

Earlier today, addressing the annual general meeting of the Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal, reiterated that the state government was willing to discuss all issues relating to the Singur land acquisition with the Trinamool Congress. However, there would be no rollback on the Tata project. This was especially important in view of the fact that the Tata Group had decided to set up the small car project in West Bengal in response to a request made by the State Government in this regard.

As regards zeroing in on Singur, it was the site chosen by the Tata Group as being most suitable for the small car project.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress MLAs, led by the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Mr Partha Chatterjee, courted arrest while protesting in front of Writers' Buildings, the State administrative headquarters.

NDA leaders will meet in New Delhi tomorrow to discuss Ms Banerjee's agitation on the Singur issue. NDA leaders will also deliberate upon the issue of acquisition of farmland for industrial projects.

"I am not responding" was all that the Chief Minister said on his way out of Writers Buildings today in response to reporters' queries about his comments on the evolving situation.

Mr Bhattacharjee will be out of Kolkata for the next two days as he is scheduled to attend official programmes in North Bengal.

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