Addressing a Left Front rally in Singur, Bhattacharjee said that 10 per cent of the farmers are yet to collect their compensation cheques from the government till date and

requested them to do so.

“I am aware of the fact that the acquisition of land has pained you. I acquired the land in the interest of unemployed youths from your families. More than 50 small and medium scale industries will come up around the Singur small car project site after the factory begins its operations. The entire economy of Singur will change,” Bhattacharjee said at the rally.

In a bid to pacify the agitating farmers, the chief minister said that his government would stand besides those who have been displaced by land acquisition.

“The government will be with the affected families during this period of crisis. I don’t know whether the Trinamool will be with you,” he said.

He added that more than 6,000 unemployed youths would get employment in the small car factory and other ancillary industries in Singur.

In order to strengthen the public distribution system (PDS) of the state, the government has decided to procure 16 lakh metric tons of rice which would later be distributed among the people through the rationing system, he said.