KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday took what could be the first step towards resolving the Singur imbroglio by responding favourably to West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjees call for talks on the matter.

The CM had in a letter on Monday, requested her to attend a meeting to discuss the ongoing agitation over acquisition of land for Tata Motors small car factory at Singur in Hooghly district. The meeting is scheduled for August 20. Later in the afternoon, Mamata told reporters that she has assigned Trinamool MLA and leader of opposition in the state assembly, Partha Chattopadhyay to attend the meeting.

However, she added, that sending Trinamool representatives to the meeting did not mean the party was backing out from their earlier demand relating to return of 400 acres of land at Singur.

"Our representatives will raise the same demand on the August 20 meeting," she indicated. Incidentally, Mamata has called for a gherao of the Tata Motors project site at Singur on August 24. Samajwadi Party chief Amar Singh is also slated to join the agitation.

On Tuesday, Mamata is slated to address chambers of commerce and explain to them her plans for alternative industrial policy without hampering farmers interests.

Meanwhile, security arrangements have been tightened at Singur to prevent any incidents. The state government on Monday also made it clear that it would not hesitate to take strong administrative measures if there was any attempt to either break down the boundary wall at the project site or to prevent the workers from entering.
Source : DNA