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Manish Basu

Singur, Aug. 24 “We want the Tata Motors car factory to come up at Singur,” said the Trinamool Congress Chief, Ms Mamata Banerjee, while addressing a mammoth rally here on Sunday.

However, she maintained that the 400 acres meant for the ancillary units must be returned to the ‘unwilling’ farmers.

She also suggested that the vendor park be relocated at the 500 acres of low-land opposite the mother plant across the road.

The small car factory resembled a fortress with the main gate barricaded with bamboo and tree trunks and the premises guarded by thousands of police personnel.

On a day in which the whole stretch of the Durgapur Expressway, contiguous to the Nano factory, was crowded with Trinamool supporters, making it almost impassable for traffic, Ms Banerjee said, “Let the Tatas set up the factory on 600 acres and return the rest of the acquired land to the unwilling farmers.”

The factory and the farmers should coexist, she said, adding that the agitation would continue indefinitely till the demands were considered. The agitation went off peacefully, with the leader repeatedly urging supporters to maintain calm and peace.

Work at the Nano factory however came to a standstill; no buses carrying the workers could be seen inside the factory. Altogether 21 protest platforms were built along the Durgapur Expressway near the factory. Just a few police personnel, with no firearms or battons, were seen at the agitation site.

The General Secretary of the Samajwadi Party, Mr Amar Singh, and social activist Ms Medha Patkar joined the agitation. Mr Singh said, “If other States are inviting the Tatas, let them go.” He also took the opportunity to invite the Trinamool leader to join the farmers’ protests in Noida.

More Stories on : Cars | New Projects | Politics | Tata Motors Ltd

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