Singur talks positive

Friday’s much awaited meeting between the West Bengal government and the Trinamul Congress-led Krishi Jomi Raksha Committee (Save Farmland Committee) on the Singur imbroglio ended on a positive note. “We are heading towards a solution. Discussions are on and will resume tomorrow,” Trinamul delegation leader Partha Chatterjee said after the talks, chaired by West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi.

The meeting at Raj Bhavan began at 4.10 pm and lasted three hours. State industry minister Nirupam Sen, who led the government side, said later he was hopeful of a positive outcome. “We discussed all issues, including land. We had a free and frank discussion, and we are hopeful that tomorrow, when the talks resume, we will arrive at a solution,” he added. Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee is under considerable pressure from her own party to withdraw her agitation soon.

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Mamata is losing support in Singur

Trinamul Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, spearheading the Singur agitation, might forcibly enter the Nano factory the moment the Tatas decide to withdraw from West Bengal.

Trinamul sources said this was what “Didi (Mamata) has been contemplating for long.” He told this newspaper: “This could be risky... if we decide to enter the factory by breaking the boundary walls and sit on a dharna.” While Ms Banerjee appeared set for a head-on collision with West Bengal’s Left Front government, she also sent a delegation to hold talks with governor Gopal krishna Gandhi on Sunday. The governor had sent a letter Saturday asking her to agree to negotiations.

Ms Banerjee, despite her “pro-people” stir, also appears to be losing considerable local support in Singur. A breach is also becoming evident within her party on the issue. Some leaders fear that if the Tatas were forced to leave Bengal, the CPI(M) could regain the political advantage as it would hold them (Trinamul) for the loss of a major project.

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Talks with Gujjars start well, today’s bandh off

The 16-day-long violent Gujjar agitation, which left at least 43 persons dead and several more injured, saw the first signs of a breakthrough on Monday after the first round of talks between the agitators and the Rajasthan government at Bayana in Bharatpur district, the epicentre of the protest.

Appearing satisfied over the way the preliminary discussions had progressed, the Gujjars, agitating for Scheduled Tribe status for their community, have decided to withdraw the nationwide bandh they had called on Tuesday.

Describing the Bayana talks as “amicable”, community leaders agreed to attend the next round of discussions in Jaipur. The leader of the agitation, Col. Kirori Singh Bainsla (Retd), who refused to participate in Monday’s discussions personally, said these talks had been “fruitful” and that he was not opposed to the idea of sending community members to Jaipur “for further discussions” with Rajasthan government representatives.

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