The Singur land row over the Tata Nano project seems far from over. On one side is chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya who wants to have a renaissance of industries in West Bengal and the other side is Mamata Banerjee a emotional leader who had nothing to loose in her political career. It is very ironical that the Trinamool Congress is using the same modus operandi of road blockades, bandhs which the Left Front had mastered over the last thirty years.The crisis had not only divided the political class into two different camps but even created a huge divide among the rural and urban people of West Bengal. The people of Kolkata and other urban regions are keeping their fingers crossed and want this project to take place at any cost. They want to be at par with their counterparts in other metropolitian cities in the country. On the other hand the people in rural Bengal whose only asset is their land are not willing to part with it at at cheap rates.
Two years back during my stay in Delhi I was talking to a panwala from rural Bengal when the Singur crisis was at its infant stage. Being a urban Bengali youth I was seeing this project as a event which will revive entire West Bengal. Mine and his concern and polarity on this issue were opposite. He told me "You are educated and will get a job if such projects. My entire family is illiterate so it will not benefit me. They will give me a job of of a security guard but I will loose the only asset my family has our land". I was taken back by his statement as the urban youth in me could have never thought on these lines.
Coming back to the present state of the land row the an important factor behind this stir which many are missing out is the enormous increase in the price of the land in Singur and its adjoining areas. The farmers have seen the prices go up by 10 times in many cases and are trying their best to get a better deal from the government. This problem has been hijacked by the mindless Trinamool Congress supporters who are promising a higher price to the poor farmers. It if amazing to see how TMC has turned this small village as its biggest battle ground.
Mamata Banerjee on her part is trying all the political tricks up her sleeves to revive her political future which was almost shattered in the last assembly elections. In a state which is crying for development the kind of opportunist politics she is playing brings shames to democracy in this country. Mamata should realise that for development industries and agriculture have to go hand in hand.
The solution to the Singur problem should be inclusive and not exclusive . It should not be tabulated seeing the rates of land today. It should be seen in a active manner keeping in mind the future. We need to be reminded of a place called Gurgaon which from a small outskirt town of Delhi became one of the most vibrant economic destination in the country owing to another small car projects.
It is up to the people to decide whether they want to see their state up in the league of or continue with the slow death it has suffered in the last 30 years. Once the Tatas pull out it will be nail in the coffin for further industrialization for West Bengal and with it the entire eastern part of the country
