Old storm gathers over Singur again

The Committee,which has called a meeting there on

Tuesday,has warned of a violent agitation if its supporters are stopped from entering the area. “This time,it will be a violent agitation in Singur. We have pleaded with the state government for a long time; it is about time to take back what is ours,” said Becharam Manna,the convenor of the Committee and saha-sabhadhipati of Singur panchayat.

The Committee was scheduled to meet on Monday,but could not due to bad weather.

“People have waited for a long time to get back their land. Now,we can wait no more. There are many vacant plots in the Singur factory area,which is over 400 acres. We will break into the factory site and start planting seeds,” Manna said adding the dates would be worked out in Tuesday’s meeting.

Asked about a possible clash,Manna said,“We are ready for everything. Let the police come. We will not budge. The people of Singur are ready to lay their lives for their land.”

The Singur agitation has got a fresh momentum following Trinamool candidate Ratna Nag’s victory over seven-time CPM MP Rupchand Pal in the Hooghly Lok Sabha constituency,of which the Singur Assembly segment is a part.

In 2006,the state government had acquired nearly 1,000 acres of land in Singur for the Nano project. Though the Tatas pulled out last year,the deadlock continued with Banerjee demanding that the 400 acres yet to be returned to farmers be given back to them.

Sources said after her party’s shining performance in Lok Sabha polls,Banerjee spoke to the Committee leaders to revive the agitation. They said Trinamool supporters are getting ready to take on the police and security personnel guarding the site.

A day after the results of the Lok Sabha polls were declared,Trinamool supporters had broken a gate at the site where Nano unit was to be set up.