In the recently concluded panchayat polls in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress has won complete control over Singur, the site of the Nano plant.
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee now wants Tata to return 400 acres of land to farmers, who had allegedly been forced to give up their land. The West Bengal government is stunned.
Ratan Tata unveiled the Nano prototype on January 10. On that day, he had laughingly said that one of names suggested for the car was Mamata. Now Mamata Banerjee has stopped just short of serving an ultimatum to the industrialist.
”We are not against any individual industrialist. But he is behaving just like a party card holder. He should take a lesson,” said Mamata Banerjee.
When asked as to what she wanted Ratan Tata to do, Mamata said, ”He should return the land – about 400 acres – to farmers who have not yet given their land.”
Mamata’s demand follows her party’s victory at Singur in the panchayat polls, seen by some as a referendum on Buddhadeb Bhattacharya’s industry policy. Despite negative results, the government has said that there won’t be any rollback on industry but has hoped that good sense wins at Singur.
”I think this is an impossible demand. I think the people of the area will also realise it that it will actually help the people of the locality. I think the people who have been elected, are also responsible people,” said Industry Minister Nirupam Sen.
The Nano is expected to roll out of Singur during the Durga Pujas in October. But Mamata Banerjee’s poser to Ratan Tata may just throw a spanner in the works.