Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, on her second day of protests at Singur, refused to blink today after Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee sent her a third letter in a fortnight, this time pointing out how several states would welcome Ratan Tata if he moves his Nano factory out of West Bengal. The CPM even got veteran Jyoti Basu to appeal to her after she rejected the offer for direct talks saying she would do so only after 400 acres was returned to the “unwilling farmers” whose land in Singur has been acquired for the project. Inside the factory complex today, at least 1700 employees reported for work.

Said Industries Minister Nirupam Sen: “People (read Mamata) should think of those “11,000 farmers who accepted payment for their land.”

Bhattacharjee wrote: “...in view of Ratan Tata’s statement (threatening to quit), several state governments are appealing to the Tatas to take the project to their states.

“You understand how important the implementation of this project has become. As a responsible Opposition leader, I believe you want this project to happen in this state...I invite you directly for talks.”

Later, Basu, who met Mamata last year to find a way out of the Singur crisis, visited the CPM office this evening and said: “I request her to suspend the dharna and resolve issues through talks...Last time we met, I told her that both she and the chief minister are elected representatives of the people. And both of them can sit for talks.”