By IANS,
Kolkata : The withdrawal of the Tatas from Singur is a “slap” for West Bengal, Biman Bose, chairman of the state’s ruling Left Front, said Saturday.
“The withdrawal of the Tatas from Singur is a slap on West Bengal. The Trinamool Congress and its partners are responsible for this loss,” Bose told reporters at a press conference at the party headquarters at Alimuddin Street here.
“However, the government must continue to implement industrialisation here despite all obstructions and arrange for job security of the unemployed youths,” he maintained.
Bose said the Trinamool Congress has been opposing the Nano plant at Singur since May 2, 2006.
“In a democracy, it is expected that every decision of the state will be taken through mutual discussions. But Trinamool only knows the language of violence. When we invited them to an all-party meeting October 4, 2006 to decide and draw the map of the farmland to be acquired for the Nano factory at Singur, the party was absent from the scene.”
“Instead of discussing the Singur issue with the Left Front government for the welfare of the people, Trinamool was busy calling bandhs (shutdown) and beating up factory workers,” Bose said.
He said the Singur farmers don’t support Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee’s movement against the Nano factory.
“I have found out myself that the people of Singur don’t support Banerjee’s movement against the factory. They want industrialisation and are now lamenting that everything is lost.”
Bose said the land acquired by the government might be auctioned.
“I heard Banerjee say that 300 acres of land can be released through a global tender to other industries. But she has to know this cannot be done to state-acquired land. The land was acquired for a purpose and if the purpose is not met within a particular time span, it may be auctioned away,” he explained.
Bose also contended that the withdrawal of the Tatas would not drive away potential investors from West Bengal.
“Tata’s withdrawal from the state is no doubt a great loss for us. But there are many investors who are keen in investing here, despite knowing about what happened to the Nano plant. So we have to look forward to those projects and this time common people have to take the initiative to remain alert and act more rational,” Bose added.
Ending days of speculation, Tata Motors Friday announced it was pulling out the Nano project from troubled Singur and blamed the Trinamool Congress for the “painful” decision.
The auto major’s decision came 32 days after it decided to suspend operations in the Singur factory fearing for the security of its employees, who were manhandled and threatened by Trinamool Congress-led protesters demanding the return of 400 acres of the 997.11 acres taken for the project.
Since its inception in May 2006, the project to roll out the Rs.100,000 ($2,250) car, encountered resistance from the Trinamool-led farmers protesting against the ‘illegal’ acquisition of farmland.