Singur: Governor calls for 'spirit of accommodation'

With the talks between West Bengal Chief Minister Buddadeb Bhattacharjee and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee failing to reach an understanding, Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi  on Saturday called for a 'spirit of accommodation' that was evident during the talks he presided over to break the Singur deadlock.

"Through the Singur discussions on September 5, 6 and 7, I saw earnest participants showing a rare spirit of accommodation. That spirit needs to be operationalised," a Raj Bhavan release said.

Gandhi said, "Reason can be reasonable; passion dispassionate. I believe, given the will, a solution can still be found in a manner that accords with the law, safeguards the interests of farmers, of the small car factory and, going beyond, help in establishing the farm-factory balance that we so vitally need."

Invoking Rabindranath Tagore, the Governor said, Jiban jakhan shukai jai koruna dharai esho (when the heart is hard and parched up, come upon me with a shower of mercy."

The chief minister had offered 70 acres in lieu of the Tata Motors project site at Singur to 'unwilling farmers' and monetary compensation to those whose land fell outside, but was rejected by Mamata Banerjee at a face-to-face meeting with him last evening.