Mamata rejects Buddhadeb's offer of talks

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today rejected West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's fresh offer of talks to end the Singur deadlock and stuck to her demand that 400 acres be returned immediately to farmers.     

Banerjee, speaking from her dharna 'manch'(dais) beside the Tata Motors small car factory here, said Bhattacharjee had earlier backed out from his promise to discuss the Singur issue when she was on a 26-day hunger-strike in Kolkata in 2006.     

"A few days after I was admitted to hospital after giving up the fast, he imposed prohibitory orders in Singur and forcibly acquired land from poor farmers," she said.     

Threatening to intensify the indefinite dharna launched since yesterday to other parts of the state, Banerjee said, "We are ready to join a discussion, but land should be returned first."     

The Trinamool chief said, "If he really wants a solution he should return 400 acres and enable the Tata plant to come up on 600 acre without making it an ego issue.     

"Alternate land of 500 acre is lying nearby with the CPI(M)-backed promoters where the vendor park of the Tata Motors can be relocated," she said.     

She alleged that the Chief Minister was resorting to dilatory tactics by urging for the dharna to be withdrawn and talks held.