(REOPENS CAL8)

Banerjee paid tribute to Tapasi Malik, a farmer’s daughterat Singur who was in the forefront of the agitation byanti-land acquisition Krishi Jami Raksha Committee floated byTrinamool Congress. The half-burnt body of the 18-year-old girl was found onDecember 18, 2006 at Bajemelia near the project site. The case, which led to public uproar, was initiallyhandled by CID but was handed over to CBI by the West Bengalgovernment after demands by opposition. In an embarrassment to Left Front major CPI(M), theparty’s former secretary of Singur zonal committee Suhrid Duttaand supporter Debu Malik were convicted in the Tapasi Malikmurder case by a Hoogly district court. Banerjee also reminded how Singur movement was followed byNandigram movement, which was also against land acqusition forindustry purpose. "My salute to Singur farmers who were never cowed down bythe pressure of the then state government for illegalacquisition of land. "We spearheaded the Singur movement taking all farmerstogether against this unjust acquisition of land. We neverwanted to deprive any farmer and wanted to ensure that none ofthem was discriminated," she said. Hitting out at the erstwhile Left Front government forSingur land acquisition, Banerjee said it was a "historicalsuicide" by CPI(M). "I can die peacefully, I am so happy (with the verdict),"she added. PTI AKB DC AKB KKDIP