Tata Motors on Sunday came out in support of Chief Minister Buddadeb Bhattacharjee whose offer of a fresh package for farmers whose land was taken has been rejected by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee. In a press statement issued by the company, the Tatas appreciated the package offered by the state Government and said it was hopeful that the initiatives would generate favourable response from the farmers, creating a positive atmosphere in Singur.

The statement comes at a time when Banerjee has already rejected the fresh rehabilitation proposal. The Left Front is organising a rally in favour of the Nano factory at Singur on Monday and a counter rally is scheuled to be held by the Singur Krishijomi Raksha Committee near the plant on the following day.

In the statement issued by Tata Motors spokesperson from Mumbai on Sunday, the company said: "Tata Motors appreciates and supports the recent initiatives of the Government of West Bengal for the residents of Singur area where it had acquired land for Tata Motors' Nano project."

The statement also re-confirmed the company's objective of setting up the Nano factory in Bengal. "Tata Motors decided to set up its Nano plant at Singur to play an active role in the re-industrialisation process of the state of West Bengal and make a contribution to the economic development of the region," the statement said.

It also stated that Nano factory is also aimed at providing direct and indirect employment opportunities for the people of Bengal and the company is keen to participate in the overall community development in Singur. The statement also highlighted that Tata Motors is hopeful that farmers will accept the fresh package and thus a congenial atmosphere will be created in the area, where the factory can function in the long term.

"Tata Motors hopes that these initiatives will evoke a positive response from the residents of Singur and that all stakeholders will contribute to create a congenial environment conducive to the long-term sustained operations of an industrial enterprise," the statement added.

On September 12, Bhattacharjee proposed fresh initiatives for Singur, including a fresh rehab package for the affected farmers. The proposal stated that 70 acres of land would be returned from within the project area, all land losers both willing and unwilling get an extra 50 per cent of the compensation price, 300 days wage for unrecorded bargadars and wage labourers, government jobs to each of the land loser family with in a year, community development by way of setting up schools, roads, hospitals in villages surrounding the project area and other benefits. The offer was rejected by Mamata Banerjee after talks with the Chief Minister.

On Sunday, the Krishijomi Rakka Committee held a rally at Beraberi which was addressed by Trinamool Congress MP Mukul Roy and TMC MLA from Singur Rabindranath Bhattacharya. "This package is nothing. This is not something we have been agitating for the past three years," Bhattacharya told The Indian Express.