The Loba stalemate on Friday remained unresolved even after state commerce and industries minister Partha Chatterjee held talks with members of the Krishi Jamin Raksha Committee (KJRC) which has spearheaded an agitation demanding higher price for their land and better rehabilitation package. After the meeting, PDS leader Samir Putatunda who led the KJRC team made it clear that the movement they had launched would continue and the villagers would not allow the earth-mover equipment to be retrieved from Dubrajpur’s Loba village in Birbhum district.
The KJRC delegation rejected the state government’s charge that outsiders, including Maoists, had infiltrated their movement. Meanwhile, special inspector general (Burdwan Range) Basab Talukdar was removed his post on Friday.
The eight-member KJRC team led by Mr Putatunda held talks with Mr Chatterjee at the state Assembly.
“We made it clear that the movement would continue and in fact tomorrow the KJRC is organising a rally in Loba where they will announce their future course of action. The villagers will not allow the payloader (read earth-mover) to be removed,” Mr Putatunda said after the meeting.
He said that Mr Chatterjee has agreed to arrange direct talks between the villagers and the DVC Emta authorities. The industries minister urged the KJRC representatives to resolve the matter through peaceful negotiation instead of violent agitation.
Later speaking to the media, Mr Chatterjee claimed that his government was not facing any public anger over land acquisition.
He blamed the previous Left Front government for the entire dispute over price of land and rehabilitation package.