Continuing his tirade against Trinamul Congress supremo and chief minister Mamata Banerjee, rebel Trinamul Congress MLA from Singur Rabindranath Bhattacharya dropped another bombshell on Sunday by suggesting an out-of-court settlement between the West Bengal government and Tatas over the Singur land dispute.
His suggestion was, however, turned down by Trinamul Congress MLA from Haripal and his “rival” Becharam Manna. Mr Manna in fact launched a scathing attack on the judiciary by describing the judges of the Calcutta high court who passed the Singur verdict against the Mamata Banerjee government as the “followers” of CPI(M) and Tatas. Setting a deadline of January to resolve the dispute, the minister of state for agriculture virtually threatened to capture the abandoned car plant site.
Earlier in the morning, Mr Bhattacharya said: “The Singur land fiasco can be sorted out through discussion with all the parties involved. A solution can be reached after discussing the issue with the Tatas, farmers and the government.” At the same time, he also observed that legal ways can also bring a solution. “The Supreme Court’s verdict can also resolve the dispute. In fact, the issue can be sorted out in both ways. But I was with the farmers, I am with them and would always stand by them,” the MLA from Singur affirmed.
He also made it clear that he would not call the chief minister anymore either for his complaint or resignation from the ministership as well as from the post of MLA. “I do not need to speak to the chief minister anymore. If any direction does not come from her, I would violate the party rule to make my decision of quitting politics effective,” Mr Bhattacharya said
Taking a dig at Ms Banerjee for her avoidance to meet party chief whip Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, he pointed out: “Giving an ear to him in a meeting would have been good for the party’s highest leadership.”