Singur Land Dispute Reignites Before PM Modi's Rally
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled rally at Singur on January 18, the contentious land issue has returned to the political forefront. This development occurs as West Bengal prepares for the 2026 assembly elections.
BJP's Promise to Bring Back Tata
West Bengal BJP leaders have made a significant pledge. They promise to bring Tata Motors back to Singur if the party forms the government in the state. Junior Union minister and BJP senior Sukanta Majumdar stated this position on Wednesday.
Majumdar described Singur as a symbol of Bengal's lost industrial opportunity. He argued that industrialization departed from Bengal when Tata was forced to leave the state.
Since the Nano car project left Singur, Bengal has not seen any major industrial projects according to Majumdar. He acknowledged that small and medium units were established, but no large factories emerged.
The BJP leader invoked the legacy of late industrialist Ratan Tata. He called the project's exit a stigma on Singur. Majumdar promised that BJP would remove this stigma by facilitating industrial investments if voters give them power.
TMC's Strong Rebuttal
Trinamool Congress immediately countered the BJP's statements. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh offered what he called a correction to the narrative.
Ghosh emphasized that Singur was never specifically about Tata or industrialization. He noted that Tata Group maintains substantial investments in Bengal currently.
The TMC spokesperson explained that Singur represented a larger struggle. He said it was about Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's fight against the principle of forcibly acquiring multi-crop agricultural land for private industry.
Ghosh pointed out that Majumdar is relatively new to politics. He reminded everyone that Majumdar's then party president Rajnath Singh supported Banerjee during the agitation. Congress party, sections of Left parties, and even ultra-Left groups also backed her position.
People across India acknowledged Banerjee for her stand according to Ghosh. He added that even BJP colleagues participated in the agitation at that time.
Historical Context of Singur
Singur occupies a unique place in Bengal's political history. In May 2006, the Left Front government signed an agreement with Tata Group. This agreement aimed to establish a car factory on nearly 1,000 acres of multi-crop agricultural land.
A prolonged agitation followed this land acquisition. Unwilling farmers led the protest with then opposition leader Mamata Banerjee at the forefront. She transformed Singur into a powerful symbol of resistance.
The agitation featured police action, numerous arrests, and Banerjee's dramatic 21-day hunger strike. This movement grew into a wider political force that ultimately led to Tata Motors withdrawing from Singur in 2008.
The company relocated its project to Sanand in Gujarat instead. This move marked a significant turning point in Bengal's industrial landscape.
Current Political Arguments
BJP seniors present a particular argument about Singur's legacy. They acknowledge that Singur delivered political change in Bengal. However, they contend it also ushered in an era of industrial stagnation for the state.
Majumdar connected Prime Minister Modi's upcoming visit with future industrial prospects. He stated that PM Modi is coming now, and in the future, Tata will also return. But he emphasized that Bengal needs a change of government for this to happen.
West Bengal finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya referenced the Supreme Court verdict on this matter. The court endorsed the Mamata Banerjee-led government's decision to return acquired land to unwilling farmers.
Bhattacharya highlighted that the highest court declared the land acquisition in Singur was wrong. She posed a pointed question to political opponents. She asked where these leaders were when farmers faced beatings and forcible land acquisition.
The Singur issue continues to resonate deeply in Bengal politics. As Prime Minister Modi prepares for his rally, this historical controversy has regained immediate relevance. Both major political parties offer contrasting interpretations of what Singur represents for Bengal's past and future.
