The Hindu : National : "Tata Motors must look for alternative site"

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Monday, Sep 11, 2006
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"Tata Motors must look for alternative site"

Special Correspondent

Mamata says State is "robbing" peasants

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee has threatened a State-wide agitation if the West Bengal Government tried to break her party's movement against the land acquisition for the proposed Tata Motors unit at Singur in Hooghly district.

In such an event the stir would not remain confined to Singur, she added.

Ms. Banerjee was addressing a party rally at Singur here on Sunday.

The Trinamool leader said she would urgeTata Motors to seek an alternative site. "Do not be misguided by the Government and snatch land from poor farmers," she said, directing her words at the company management.

The State Government was "robbing" peasants of their land, she alleged, adding "we will be with them [the farmers] till the Government retracts."

Not anti-industrialisation

Ms. Banerjee, who recently met some leaders of industry in the city, had said that her party was not against greater industrialisation in the State but would oppose any move to dispossess peasants of their land.

Land acquisition at Singur has become a major political issue with the Opposition parties.

The ruling Left Front has reiterated that the Government would ensure that the food security of the State is in no way endangered while implementing its plans for greater industrialisation.

The Congress will hold a rally against the State's move at Singur on Monday. Senior leaders, including Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, will address it.

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