Banerjee, in turn, announced the immediate suspension of her party’s two-year-old agitation on the issue and the fortnight-long sit-in demonstration at the factory site.

There was no immediate reaction from the Tatas who had earlier made it clear that there could be no compromise on the land holding pattern in Singur.

Reading from a prepared text of the understanding reached between the two sides, Gandhi said: “The government has taken the decision to respond to the demands of those farmers who have not received compensation, by means of land to be provided to the maximum within the project area and the rest in adjacent areas as early as possible. Towards this, a committee will be constituted to ascertain the scope and settle the modalities within a period of one week. During this time, the government will urge the vendors not to make any constructions. Mamata Banerjee is making an announcement regarding the suspension of the agitation from Singur. The government and those who have been agitating on behalf of the farmers will cooperate with each other for the benefit of the industry, agriculture and ancillaries.”

... contd.