National

Congress workers try to enter Singur site

KOLKATA: Congress supporters, protesting against the alleged forcible acquisition of land from farmers for the Tata Motors project at Singur, on Sunday tried to enter the site, but were prevented by the police. Led by senior Congress leader Abdul Mannan, they took out a procession demanding that the land be handed back to the owners.

Mr. Mannan told The Hindu that the Congress would step up its “agitation against the acquisition of land from farmers who had not been willing to part with their plots.”

The State Congress leadership has urged the Buddhadeb government to initiate unconditional talks involving farmers and Tata Motors to resolve the issue. It said the interests of farmers should not be ignored in any plans for industrialisation.

Though the Trinamool Congress is also spearheading a movement against “forcible” acquisition of land, so far there are no signs of it joining ranks with the Congress.

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