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Sunday, Dec 10, 2006
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Mamata ignores appeals to end fast

Staff Reporter

Medha Patkar, 87 others arrested and later released

Kolkata: Prominent social activist Medha Patkar was arrested while leading a silent protest march against the forcible acquisition of farmland for the Singur based Tata Motors project here on Saturday, even as the Trinamool Congress leader, Mamta Banerjee's fast on the same issue entered its sixth day.

Ms. Patkar, who was arrested along with 87 others including CPI(ML) leader Kanu Sanyal for "violating" law in the protected area in front of the American Centre, was released later in the evening.

Biman Bose, Left Front Committee Chairman, renewed his appeal to the Trinamool leader to call off her fast and said she could carry on her protest even after ending the hunger strike.

Somnath's appeal

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has already written to Ms. Banerjee to end her fast. Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has also made a similar appeal to Ms. Banerjee, asking her to call off her fast and attend the winter session of Parliament.

Ms. Banerjee, however, said she would continue her fast till the `forcible' acquisition of land was stopped at Singur and the prohibitory orders imposed there withdrawn.

Mass hunger strike

She also called for a mass hunger strike on Sunday between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. in which ordinary people, irrespective of their religious beliefs, could come and participate.

Protest rallies on the Singur issue would also be taken out on Monday throughout the State as part of the agitation.

Addressing a press conference at the conclusion of a Left Front meeting, Mr. Bose said the Singur issue did not feature in the meeting.

The task of awarding cash compensation to those who had submitted consent letters was, however, going on at Singur, as was the setting up of electric poles to light up the proposed site.

"There are various forms of protest... we are not scared of protest," Mr. Bose said, regarding Trinamool's agiatation.

He said that Ms. Banerjee could hold discussions on the issue or send representatives to the government later, if she did not `feel up to it right now.'

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