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Mrs Gandhi condemned the “needless loss of life” at Nandigram, which, she said, “brings into focus certain inequitable policies being pursued in the name of economic progress.” And, then she asserts: “The issue is not industrialisation, it is the forcible acquisition of fertile land from villagers who do not wish to part with it.

Meanwhile, car workers are taking part in an indefinite strike at the Hindustan Motors factory in Uttarpara, in the Indian state of West Bengal and were brutally assaulted by police last week. Officers armed with long truncheons attacked pickets and arrested union activists who have been taking action for more than a month. This was the latest episode in a struggle that is fuelling growing anger with the Communist-led government in the state.

On the Singur issue, the Calcutta High Court will hear all the cases related to land acquisition by the West Bengal government in Singur for Tata Motors small car project from April 27.