CALCUTTA, FEB 10: In a major move to patch ingrowing differences with the Trinamool Congress, the Vajpayee Government today accepted most of the demands contained in the `Bengal package', to be implemented for the speedy development of West Bengal.Making a series of announcements regarding implementation of the package, Information and Broadcasting Minister Pramod Mahajan, who attended the public rally of the Trinamool Congress at Brigade Parade Ground here as the emissary of the Prime Minister, also urged the party to join the Vajpayee Government.The announcements came in the wake of Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee's persistent demands for implementation of the pending projects and other development schemes for the State.The large crowd responded with applause as Mahajan listed, one by one, acceptance by the Centre of Banerjee's demands, ranging from three important railway projects, extension of both metro and circular railway, modernisation of Calcutta Port and airport, besides a revival package for the sick Public Sector Units like ECL Collieries, Burn Standard, Tyre Corporation and Hindustan Fertiliser Corporation.Union Petroleum Minister K Ramamurthy announced expansion of Haldia Refinery and immediate exploratory activities by the ONGC in eight oil fields in the State.Even as Mahajan heaped praises on Banerjee for organising the big rally, no leaders from the State unit of BJP were invited to the Brigade Parade Ground.Leaders from the progressive alliance floated by Banerjee also attended the rally. They included Loktantrik Congress president Naresh Agarwal, Maharastra Vikas Agadi leader Suresh Kalmadi and Manipur People's Congress leader Chouba Singh.Defence Minister George Fernandes, who enjoys a good rapport with the Trinamool Congress leader, also attended.Touching the emotional chord of the people of Bengal, Mahajan said that a lifesize statue of poet Rabindranath Tagore would be installed in Delhi within a year and a national memorial would be raised for rebel poet Kazi Najrul Islam on his centenary year, at his birthplace at Churulia in Burdwan district.A committee headed by the Prime Minister was formed to celebrate the birth centenary of Nazrul Isalam throughout the country in a befitting manner, he said, adding that the Asansol-Howrah Express had been renamed as `Agniveena Express', as a tribute to the rebel poet.The Centre, he said, would grant Rs 1.25 crore for the national memorial for Nazrul Islam and another Rs 1.40 crore for the renovation of Swami Vivekanda's ancestral house here.Mahajan said that adequate funds would be earmarked for the railway projects in the coming rail budget. ``We will see if the State Government made the land available for those rail projects before the budget,'' said Mahajan.Mahajan said that although the State Government had shown a ``miserly attitude'' in sharing the cost of extension of a metro railway from Tollygunj to Garia, and a circular railway from Princep Ghat to Majerhat, the Centre would bear 66 per cent of the total expenditure required.A railway team would arrive here tomorrow for studying the extension of the circular railway, he said, adding that other railway projects to be taken up included Eklakhi-Balurghat, Digha-Tamluk and Howrah-Amta.The Centre, he said, had sanctioned Rs 100 crore for the Calcutta Port and kept a provision for another Rs 300 crore for it in the Ninth Plan.Apart from this, work for the six-lane second Vivekananda bridge would begin from May 1 and night-landing facilities would be installed at Bagdogra Airport, he announced.Mahajan also categorically stated that no retrenchment would be made in ECL and a revival package would be worked out for the sick PSUs.Expressing happiness over the announcements, the Trinamool Congress leader said that it covered 80 per cent of the demands mentioned in the package. ``But we will not hesitate to stage a dharna in Delhi, if the Centre failed to keep its promises for the implementation of the Bengal package,'' she said.
