Kolkata, December 24
Anxious at the health of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on the 21st day of her indefinite fast in protest against the Tatas' project in Singur, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today requested her to end her hunger strike but she refused to budge.
The Prime Minister sent his request in a communication through Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi as his emissary to the Trinamool supremo at her sit-in here.
Mr Dasmunshi said the Prime Minister, in his communication, requested Ms Banerjee to withdraw her fast and that he was 'anxious' for her health.
Ms Banerjee, Mr Dasmunshi said, informed her that she had respect for the Prime Minister but "it is not possible for me to end my fast since there is no specific assurance from Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattcharjee to return the forcibly acquired land to farmers at Singur."
Mr Dasmunsi told reporters that the Prime Minister had also intimated Ms Banerjee that there had been an assurance from the Chief Minister that he was ready to discuss the issues pertaining to acquired land at Singur for the proposed small car project of Tata Motors.
He said Ms Mamata Banerjee should end her fast and sit for discussion. "The Prime Minister has
respect for the non-violent movement of Mamata Banerjee."
Mr Dasmunsi said he had gone to the sit-in by Mamata as the Prime Minister's emissary to deliver his letter to her.
He said the Prime Minister, before leaving for Delhi at the end of his visit to the state, asked him to hand over the communication to Ms Banerjee.
Meanwhile, During his 18-hour stay in the city since last night, Dr Singh attended two functions - one at IISCO and another at the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) at Baranagar. He had a meeting with the state Chief Minister and also met the Congress(l) delegations.
During his meeting with the Chief Minister, Dr Singh endorsed the decision of the use of farmland for industries, but did not approve the forcible eviction of the land-owners.
At the ISI's function, Dr Singh acknowledged the great contribution of the institute and the eminent personalities attached to it in nation building.
— PTI
