Nirupam Sen

Kolkata: Farmers are being misguided regarding the acquisition of land for the proposed small car manufacturing plant to be set up by Tata Motors at Singur in West Bengal's Hooghly district, Industries Minister Nirupam Sen said here on Monday.

Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee had charged the Government with robbing farmers of their land.

The proposed project has been adopted by the Opposition parties as a major issue in their political agenda.

Both the Trinamool as well as the Congress accused the ruling Left Front Government of dispossessing farmers for setting up the plant.

The Left Front has, however, assured farmers, who might be affected by its plans for setting up industries, of rehabilitation and adequate compensation.

Nothing would be done at the cost of imperilling food security, Left leaders have maintained.

No trouble wanted

The State Government would not like any trouble to come in the way of its plans for greater investment for industry, Mr. Sen said.

He also refuted Ms. Banerjee's charge that the Government insisted on the project's location. It was Tata Motors which had sought the site after it was shown several other areas where the proposed plant could be set up, Mr. Sen said.

Congress protest

Senior Congress leaders addressed a rally at Singur during the day, protesting against the project.

"The Congress is for industry and also for the Tata Motors' car project, but that should not be at the cost of farmers," Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said.

``Doom for the State''

Giving away multi-crop land to investors would spell doom for the State, he warned.

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