Talks progressing well: WB Governor's legal advisor

STEP FORWARD: Chittotosh Mukherjee said that the govt had moved forward in deliberations.

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New Delhi: Hopeful of a solution to the Singur stalemate is the Legal Advisor to Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi on the Singur talks, Chittotosh Mukherjee. Chittotosh Mukherjee was the former chief justice of the Calcutta and Mumbai High Courts.

Speaking exclusively to CNN-IBN Mukherjee said that discussions have begun on a positive note.

Diptosh Majumdar: As a legal advisor, what will be your role specifically because the West Bengal government has insisted that the laws are very old and land once taken by the government cannot be returned?

Chittotosh Mukherjee: That is not important. The law is an instrument by which you fashion your lives and create rights and obligations. And the law is subject to change. Since 1989, the law has changed completely. Even the land acquisition law has been amended many times. The legislature can change the law if the need arises.

Diptosh Majumdar: Is the government willing to go ahead and meet the demands, somewhere, someplace?

Chittotosh Mukherjee: That's the question I believe the government can better answer.

Diptosh Majumdar: But Firday's meeting, they didn't reveal any of their intentions.

Chittotosh Mukherjee: They did not say no, or yes. But they put across the points which they would like to take up. The government does not function in an instantaneous mode. They have to ponder and decide.

Diptosh Majumdar: But it does mean a step forward from where it was?

Chittotosh Mukherjee: Yes, I agree. This is certainly a step forward but maybe not the final step one would take.