West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi on Wednesday made several observations, which when put into the present context might be read as an indictment of the Left Front Government for creating the Singur impasse. Speaking at the the Second Green Revolution Summit & Expo here, Gandhi said: “The way in which agriculture and industry are seen juxtaposed is not right, there is a scope for both. The first imperative is therefore that of a dialogue, not when a crisis hangs overhead, but well in advance.” The comments came hours before a Trinamool Congress delegation led by Mamata Banejree briefed him about the Singur imbroglio.

“We will also have to bear in mind the fact that the farming community has a mind of its own no less than its urban or industrial equivalent. And we will have to think carefully on the location of industrial ventures, not turning to arable land before exhausting all the options... Land is limited. Land is precious. Land holds a special value to farmers and their families. It is not an impersonal, dematerialised share certificate that you can buy and sell with every swing of the sensex.”

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee chose to stick to her “no compromise” stand on Singur. After her meeting with the Governor, said to be a last-ditch attempt to salvage the project, she said her agitation on Thursday was on schedule. Accusing the Government of breaching its side of the agreement, Mamata said: “I feel the Governor is sad and concerned about the Singur situation. But I cannot say what he told me.”