Tata factory talks postponed as protests continue

Kolkata: The talks to end the stalemate on the Tata's Singur plant were postponed from Friday morning to 4pm as the Trinamool Congress-led opposition did not act on the West Bengal governor's suggestion to temporarily suspend protests and allow normalcy on the Durgapur Expressway, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said here.

"Last night, the governor requested the opposition to suspend its ongoing agitation temporarily and clear the national highway and Durgapur Expressway. Till Friday morning the opposition did not take any step in this regard. Keeping this in view, the governor has deferred the meet till 4 pm," Bhattacharjee said.

Asked about the governor's comments earlier in the day that the state government had asked for the postponement, the chief minister said: "I have not told anybody to defer the meeting. It is the governor's decision and I think it is a correct decision."

However, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, said "We want a positive outcome of the meeting. There will be 100 per cent cooperation."