Support the Sangharsh in Singur

Ratan Tata has threatened to pull out!As if the Tata Motors are doing a great favour to those who are being looted of their lands and
livelihoods.

In case the Tatas are eventually boote dout, that'd be a great lesson for other industrial houses as well:
Don't ignore popular voices. Don't rely too much on the administration.
That'd be really great.] Support the Sangharsh in Singur


Write to the West Bengal CM and TATAs to unconditionally return back

400 acres of lands to the farmers



All of us are well aware about the latest developments on the Nano Car Plant front at Singur, that is to come up, if the TATAs are allowed to have their way, on about a thousand acres of fertile multi-cropped land, permanently affecting the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of farmers, farm labourers, share croppers, bargadars, small traders and artisans. In the past two years, we have all been constantly extending solidarity to the struggling people of Singur, who have braved forced land acquisition, arrests, rape, countless false cases, police and party violence, loss of livelihoods and deprivation. Even though it has been estimated that the factory would not require more than 650 acres, the people are being forcibly deprived of an additional 350 acres. Farmers and people's groups and movements across the country have constantly expressed solidarity with the people of Singur and firmly feel that, the return of 400 acres is the least minimum that is necessary ensure justice, even if belated and in part.



The Singur struggle is at a critical juncture now and on a virtual warpath. Starting tomorrow, August 24th, the Krishi Zameen Bachao Committee would launch an indefinite action all along the 14 km stretch of the factory site. It is extremely essential that all of us, who have been supporting the struggle in various ways and forms till now, continue to extend our support. Various people's groups, eminent intellectuals, movements and political parties would be joining the warriors of Singur from tomorrow in support of their indefinite action against the TATA-FIAT venture. It is also apparent that the State is readying itself to take own its own people and would deploy heavy police force.



It is of course, a welcome move that some political parties like the Trinamool Congress and SUCI are taking a firm confrontationist stand in support of the return of 400 acres, while the Congress still seems to be dithering to take a cogent position on the issue of whether prime agriculture land can be acquired for industrial purposes. People's movements also feel that, it would have made better political and human sense, had the political parties, which are now taking a firm stand and action, did so earlier in the day.



Though, according to TATA-FIAT, they have already undertaken a lot of construction work, which they say has cost them about 1500 crores, there can be no dispute over the fact that the costs that the TATAs will have to bear, if the ancillary industries are relocated elsewhere, would invariably be proportionately less, when compared to the social and environmental costs that the communities in Singur would have to bear, for a lifetime!



The series of statements being issued and positions taken by the CPI (M) Government are most undemocratic and anti-people. The CPM Govt. in West Bengal which, earlier went all out of its way to woo TATA-FIAT to invest in the state, is now, again going all out to ensure that their prestige and that of the TATAs remains in tact, that the 400 acres of land are not returned at any cost, come what may, even to the extent of legitlimizing illegal actions! That lands cannot be returned back is a total lie. Expert legal and constitutional opinion has it that the lands can always be transferred from one public purpose to another public purpose, and there is no legal wrangle in the farmers and farm workers getting back their lands and livelihoods.



In what appears to be more of a battle for prestige, it remains to be seen whether the struggle for justice would eventually triumph. The 400 acres can and must go to the people who have not accepted cash compensation. Besides lands to the farmers, we also demand that the landless, who are losing their livelihoods, due to land acquisition, must be given adequate compensation and a contract to guarantee permanent jobs must be singed between the Govt. of West Bengal and TATA-FIAT.



It is also a given reality that the Nano cars are not what the masses of India want, but just, democratic and meaningful development through industrialization. These and other cars would only end up adding to the existing congestion and environmental pollution, besides further accentuating the unjust use of road and housing space of the poor and marginalized. The State has an obligation to invest in and promote efficient public transport and this must also be part of our demand.



An irrelevant issues is also being raised as to whether the people of West Bengal are 'for or against industrialization. It is no ones' case that we must not have industrial progress, that would contribute to all-round development of the people. But whether, any form of industrialization must come up on prime agricultural land or by affecting the farming and working communities is a central question.



It would be in the best interest not just of the farmers and farm workers of Singur, if the TATA-FIAT pulls out of this controversial project, but also in their own interest, who would only end up earning more disrepute, nationally and internationally, rather than desi dollars from their 'one-lakh' cars. FIAT's own trade unions have also been extending unprecedented solidarity to the struggling people of Singur. The resounding defeat of the ruling CPI (M) in all of the Gram Panchayats in the Singur Block (except one) is a profound and incontrovertible verdict of the local people, that cannot and should be ignored. The CPM-TATA-FIAT combine cannot afford to ignore these multitude of sane and just voices.



Do write to the the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and Mr. Ratan Tata calling upon them to immediately heed to the just demands of the people of Singur.



Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharya

Chief Minister,

Government of West Bengal,

Fax: 033-22215480

E-mail:

cm@wb.gov.in
Mr. Ratan Tata

E-mail:




Mukta Srivastava Medha Patkar P. Chennaiah Sandeep Pandey