Date:23/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/23/stories/2008082360861200.htm

National

BJP says its stand on Singur vindicated

Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday said its stand on the happenings in West Bengal’s Singur and Nandigram districts over the last one year and more was vindicated by the statement of industrialist Ratan Tata, threatening to pull out his Nano car project from the State.

Party spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said the State government had been claiming that the normality had returned to the two districts. The BJP had pointed out that the cadres of the ruling Left Front parties were using “strong-arm tactics” against the ordinary people protesting against forcible acquisition of their land. Mr. Tata’s statement had made it clear that the situation in Singur was far from normal.

Asked whether his party approved of the agitation in Singur, led by Trinamul Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, Mr. Rudy avoided any reference to Ms. Banerjee. He said his party “was always with farmers struggling anywhere” and that the problem arose because of the manner in which the issue of land acquisition was dealt with by the Left Front.

The BJP also expressed its surprise and dismay over reports of a visit by some party leaders to the village of Mufti Abu Bashir in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, presumably to express solidarity with the Mufti, who was arrested by the Gujarat police in connection with the recent Ahmedabad blasts.

“This,” Mr. Rudy said, “was an attempt to influence the courts and prevent concerted action against terror”.

Congress for project

Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said it was unfortunate that the State government conducted the land acquisition for the project without any transparency. On Mr. Tata’s statement, he said: “The Congress is for the project, as it meets the aspirations of the common man but the displaced farmers should be compensated properly.”

About the Congress’ involvement in the agitation in Singur, he said: “It is the duty of every political party to work for the welfare of the people. If farmers are agitating for a genuine cause, then it is our duty to support them.”