Mamata demands Central Rule in Bengal

On a day when a team from Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd visited a site in Singur to explore possibilities of setting up a power plant,Banerjee once again came out all guns blazing,saying no project would be allowed in Singur unless the 400 acres of land was returned to the farmers. Stressing that she was not anti-industry or anti-development,she said her stand was unchanged. Return the extra land to farmers and set up the plant at 600 acres only, she said,adding that even her ministry could set up a factory in Singur without deviating from this stance.

At an informal gathering on Wednesday night,Banerjee said the agitation she had led in Singur,particularly the hunger strike,had seen many former Naxalites come forward and join the democratic process. Many former Naxalites came forward and supported us. Many of them campaigned for us and are now working for the Trinamool Congress. The fact that they have shunned violence and returned to the democratic process is a positive sign, she said,clarifying that there was a difference between Naxalites and Maoists.