I will talk to Ratan Tata over Singur: Buddhadeb

Kolkata, Sep 27 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Saturday said Tata Motors chairman Ratan Tata was willing to sit for a dialogue with the state government over the Singur imbroglio.

'I wrote a letter to Ratan Tata and I've got a reply from him. I sent him the missive expressing willingness to have a conversation with him regarding the issue. He agreed to my proposal,' Bhattacharjee said while addressing the 13th all India Students Federation of India (SFI) conference here.

He said the state government was trying its best to stop Tatas from shifting out of the state.

'If the situation continues for further period, the company will surely move out of the state. But, I am still trying to retain the project in West Bengal,' he said.

Criticising the movement led by the opposition Trinamool Congress, Bhattacharjee said: 'If Tata Motors shifts its Nano plant from West Bengal, Trinamool Congress will have to be responsible for that.'

'I tried a lot to make the opposition leaders understand the importance of the project in West Bengal. But they are glued to their demand for the 400 acres,' the chief minister said, adding: 'It's impossible to give back 300-400 acres inside the Tata Motors small car project area at Singur.'

According to a decision, unanimously taken in the state cabinet meeting Friday, Bhattacharjee wrote a letter to Tata requesting him not to move out of the state.

Bhattacharjee also appealed to the company to restart operations at the plant and promised to provide full safety and security to the workers.