Talks to salvage India's cheap-car plant enter second day

KOLKATA, India, Sept 6 (AFP) Talks to end violent protests over a factory in eastern India designed to manufacture the world's cheapest car entered a second day today, with both sides expressing optimism. brThe Marxist government of West Bengal state said it was hopeful of reaching a deal in the talks that began yesterday with farmers and opposition parties. brWe are hopeful of a breakthrough, West Bengal industry minister Nirupam Sen said before entering the discussions. brThe talks were chaired by state governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi, a grandson of Indian independence icon Mahatma Gandhi. brSen's expression of optimism followed a statement late Friday by Partha Chatterjee, a leader of the Trinamool Congress party that has spearheaded the protests, that the two sides were heading toward a solution. brThe protesters claim farmers were forcibly evicted by the state government to make way for the car plant and are demanding a return of land. brThe government is offering a package that will help all farmers whose land was acquired, Sen said. brTata Motors, India's largest vehicle maker which shot to international prominence when it bought British motoring icons Jaguar and Land Rover earlier this year, did not attend the talks.