Bengal Minister Expresses Disappointment Over PM's Singur Rally
Bengal Industries Minister Shashi Panja openly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. She stated that his speech at a Sunday rally in Singur failed to announce any new projects for the area. This omission left local BJP leaders and workers feeling deeply disappointed and frustrated.
Trinamool Counters BJP's Industry Narrative
Panja addressed reporters directly. "We understand their disappointment," she said, referring to BJP members. "Like them, we also hoped the Prime Minister would announce some schemes or projects for Singur. There was none." She emphasized that the PM's speech covered multiple topics but avoided specific commitments for the region.
The Trinamool Congress launched a strong counterattack against the BJP's narrative about industrial flight from Bengal. The party highlighted its own recent initiative through a social media post. The Bengal government has approved a major new project in Singur.
A state-of-the-art warehouse complex worth Rs 500 crore will be built on 11.35 acres. This project aims to strengthen e-commerce logistics for giants like Amazon and Flipkart. It is also expected to create large-scale employment opportunities in the area.
Broader Political Clashes Emerge
The political sparring extended beyond industrial policy. Trinamool leaders also condemned what they called attempts to appropriate Bengali culture. They specifically mentioned Durga Puja and references to the Bengali language.
Trinamool MP Partha Bhowmik accused the BJP of a sudden "memory loss." He reminded the public that the BJP had previously moved court to stall government grants for Durga Puja committees. He credited Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who took office in 2011, with elevating the festival's global profile.
The party also rejected Prime Minister Modi's description of Bengal's law-and-order situation as "maha jungle raj" and his call for "real change."
Historical Context of Singur Debate Revived
Bengal Transport Minister Snehashis Chakraborty provided historical context. He argued that the Singur agitation had a pan-India significance that the BJP fails to grasp. "The apex court struck down the Singur land acquisition," he stated, "validating Mamata Banerjee's fight."
He claimed this legal outcome forced the central government to amend its colonial-era land acquisition law. The new law now specifies that land cannot be acquired for private projects without the consent of 80% of the landowners. "Mamata Banerjee's fight resonated across the country," Chakraborty asserted.
Bengal Junior Minister Becharam Manna reframed the core issue. "Singur wasn't fundamentally an industry debate," he said. "It was about whether multi-crop land can be acquired forcibly. Had the Left Front wanted, industry and agriculture could have co-existed in Singur."
Abhishek Banerjee Asserts Bengal's Resolve
Trinamool National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee delivered a sharp rebuke at a roadshow in Nadia's Chapra. He responded to Modi's call for change in Bengal. "The outsiders from Delhi, the landlords of Gujarat will change, we will not change," he declared.
Banerjee interpreted the PM's previous speech in Malda as a desire to "change the people of Bengal" rather than improve their lives. He firmly stated, "The people of Bengal have not changed." He alleged the Centre was targeting Bengal due to its political defiance.
He accused the Union government of using punitive measures against the state. Banerjee cited the suspension of funds for the 100-day work scheme and delays in housing projects. He characterized these actions as attempts to "teach" Bengal a lesson. "You are trying to change people through punishment — by stopping work and taking away their voting right," he claimed.
Banerjee concluded with a firm assertion of Bengal's pride. "Bengal will not accept any change by compromising on its self-respect," he said. "Bengal will not change by bowing its head, by submitting at your feet or by selling its spine."
