Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Singur deadlock

I agree that the farmers of Singur will suffer the most if the Tata Motors pull out their small car manufacturing unit due to the ongoing political game in West Bengal (Letters, September 5). Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, one of the most experienced politicians of the State who has also served the country as a Cabinet Minister, is acting irresponsibly by obstructing work.

Shailesh Kumar,

Bangalore

There is no denying that with industrialisation, people get jobs and their economic status improves. But industry must coexist with agriculture which is the backbone of our economy. Haphazard policies of various governments have resulted in the conversion of agriculture land resulting in food shortage and increasing inflation. When policymakers do not take effective steps to arrest the growing disappearance of agricultural land, industrialisation not only creates fears among the people but also increases their animosity towards industrialists, leading to social tensions and unrest. Unless the fears are properly addressed, no amount of tutoring by the media and others will have a positive impact on the minds of the people.

K.T. Krishnaswami,

Singaperumal Koil

The deadlock over the Singur plant exposes the repulsive nature of industrialisation. Agreed, industrialisation generates employment but it cannot be promoted by sacrificing our fertile lands. In our urge to be ahead in the rat race of setting up industries, we shouldn’t forget that our food comes from agriculture. In covering the tug-of-war between politicians and industrialists, the media have overlooked the threat of global warming that the proliferation of industries is bound to increase.

Abhishek Chatterjee,

Pune

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