Pullout a conspiracy to malign Oppn: Mamata

Terming the comment made by Tata Motors8217; chairman Ratan Tata that the Opposition8217;s ongoing protest in Singur had mainly contributed to their decision to shift the Nano small car project out of the state 8220;unfortunate8221;, she said: 8220;I will not respond to Ratan Tata8217;s comment about our protest and demands, as I don8217;t want to get personal.8221;

Banerjee had been demanding return of 400 acres of land 8212; acquired by the government and leased to Tata Motors 8212; to the 8220;unwilling farmers.8221; The Trinamool and other political parties jointly held a dharna outside the car factory site that led to Tata Motors to suspend their work on September 2. At that time, Tata said that his company would not like to work under police protection. 8220;There8217;s no danger in Singur. Our protest was peaceful. We have not hampered work at the Nano plant. If the Tatas had really wanted, they could have carried on with their work. It8217;s clear that the Tatas wanted to move out from the very beginning,8221; Banerjee said.

Adding that the exit of the Tatas will have no bearing on their agitation against land acquisition, Banerjee said the land 8220;has to be returned.8221; On Tuesday, Banerjee had met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and is said to have asked for Centre8217;s intervention to resolve the Singur issue. During the meeting, she had said she was not 8220;anti-industry8221;.