Date:24/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/24/stories/2006122404331000.htm

National

Manmohan must intervene: Mamata

Staff Reporter

"Amend Land Acquisition Act, 1894"

Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata: On the 20th day of her fast, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee sought the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the Singur issue as she felt that it was connected with the debate on farmland acquisition throughout the country.

Ms. Banerjee said she would send a letter addressed to Dr. Singh on Sunday, in which she would ask him to amend the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 which was based on British colonial law and was being used in the present situation to take away land. Mr. Singh is due to arrive in the city late on Saturday.

"If it is necessary, we can have an ordinance for the time being as the matter is urgent and the amendment later," she said, adding that she had "nothing against the Prime Minister personally."

Protest Day

Sunday would, however, be observed as `Protest Day' with rallies and meetings to be organised throughout the State on the Singur issue, Ms. Banerjee said.

Refuting Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's contention that 952 out of the required 997 acres of land had been peacefully acquired, Ms. Banerjee said that based on the affidavits submitted to court by the affected farmers, 464 acres were forcibly acquired.

On the repeated requests from the State Government to withdraw her fast, Ms. Banerjee said she would end her fast only if there was action from the Government's side. "There must be action ... I am not waiting for inaction."

Ms. Banerjee's health is fast deteriorating. Abhas Munshi, one of the two other leaders who accompanied her in her fast, was admitted to a city hospital after he fell ill.

Earlier on Saturday, women from Singur participated in a protest rally, holding earthen pots above their head to signify that their source of sustenance was in danger.