Mamata fires fresh salvo, wants 10 lac Nanos free

Agencies Posted: Jan 12, 2008 at 1926 hrs
Kolkata, January 12: The Tatas should give 10 lakh 'Nanos', the Rs 1 lakh car unveiled by the group's chairman Ratan Tata in Delhi two days ago in Delhi, for ‘free’, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee demanded on Saturday.

"Tatas were given land valued at Rs 1,000 crore free, as also Rs 135 crore in incentives such as power and water. Everything is free. After getting so many things free, the Tatas should give 10 lakh cars free," she said.

"Instead of talking tall in Delhi and showing a car made in Maharashtra, I would understand if he unveiled it at Singur," she said without naming Ratan Tata.

She reiterated her demand that the land of unwilling farmers at Singur, the site of the Tata Motors plant, which will manufacture the Nano, be returned.

There was also 'no question' of allowing the Tatas to begin production of their small car at Singur, she said.

Stating that she was neither a business competitor nor a consultant, Banerjee said, "our job is to take care of public interest. Anybody can do whatever they like, but without causing any inconvenience to the people."