NEW DELHI, Dec 28: President Abdul Kalam expressed serious concern on Thursday at the deteriorating health of an opposition leader in eastern India on a protest fast for 25 days against a car project.

“The president spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ... today and expressed his serious concern and emphasised the need to find a way to end the stalemate and to enable her to end the fast,” a statement from Mr Kalam's office said.

The outspoken Mamata Banerjee, who heads the opposition Trinamool Party in communist-ruled West Bengal state, has been fasting to protest the government's move to sell farmland to Indian auto giant Tata Motors for a factory.

The statement said Mr Kalam had also spoken to West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee, who on Thursday issued a fresh appeal to Ms Banerjee to halt her hunger strike though he has refused to ask Tata to scrap the project.

“It was for the third time the chief minister sent a letter to her urging to break her fast and meet for talks on the acquisition of land,” a Trinamool spokesman said.

“The chief minister has also made some proposals to Ms Banerjee which would be discussed at a meeting” to be held later on Thursday, spokesman Saugata Roy said.

Ms Banerjee, who according to party colleagues, is suffering from breathing problems and fluctuating blood pressure, has also turned a deaf ear to pleas by Prime Minister Singh to call off her fast.—AFP