Singur (Hooghly), August 24
The indefinite dharna at Singur, which was launched by Mamata Banerjee today, received an overwhelming response from almost all the opposition parties, different activists and human rights organisations. Around 200,000 persons participated in the protest rally held in front of the Tata Motors plant at Singur.
Albeit the protest was largely peaceful, traffic on the Durgapur highway was disrupted for around eight hours in the morning due to processions taken out by the Krishi Bachao Committee and their supporters.
Among those present during the rally were Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh, the newly-formed Democratic Indira Congress leader Somen Mitra, former WBPCC(l) president Jayanta Bhattacharyya, PDS leader Samir Patutunda, CPI(M-L) leader Santosh Rana, SUCI’s Manick Mukherjee and social activist Medha Patkar. Mamata reiterated that the agitation would continue till the 400 acres of land at Singur was returned to the poor farmers.
On the other hand, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee preferred to remain silent and follow a “wait and watch policy”. Left front chairman Biman Bose, however, said the demand for returning the land would be considered. He asked Mamata to come out with a specific proposal that would be acceptable to the government. The latter promptly suggested that around 500 acres of land was lying vacant on the opposite side of Singur plant that could be allotted for ancillary industries, and the 400 acres returned to the farmers.
Mamata said a solution could be reached provided the government and the CPM were sincere to the farmers’ causes. She said they would welcome Ratan Tata if he was ready to positively respond to the reasonable demands of the poor farmers.
Earlier in the morning, people from different places gathering in front of the plant and erected 21 ‘manches’ to begin their sit-in demonstrations. Mamata and other TMC leaders, who arrived at Singur at around 1 pm, occupied the main ‘manch’ built near gate No 3 - the main entrance of the plant.
Addressing the meeting, both Amar Singh and Somen Mitra
criticised the CPM for adopting double standard towards industrialists and private investments. Amar Singh also invited Mamata to a protest rally to be organised in support of Noida farmers some time next month.
He assured the farmers that he would raise the issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi after returning to New Delhi.
Medha Patkar alleged that the CPI, which followed a pro-poor stand during the sixties and seventies, had now turned pro-capitalist. She suggested that December 25 be observed as “Singur Day” nationwide, for which she herself would take the initiative.
