Singur dharna turns into highway camp

The Trinamul Congress (TC) dharna at Singur, the site of the Rs 1 lakh Nano car plant of Tata Motors, assumed the look of a public camp-out at night with huge public kitchens preparing a dinner of ‘khichdi’ and vegetables, serving dinner on National Highway 2, and then rolling out hundreds of bedding to sleep on the highway.

The NHAI-run highway, which charges Rs 35 for a one-way ticket, continued to be blocked till late at night.

However, the agitation, for return of around 400 acres to farmers who had not accepted compensation despite their land being acquired as part of the 997 acre plot housing the plant, was very peaceful, aided by TC supremo Mamata Banerjee’s stand that this was a “satyagraha”. “this has turned into a picnic”, alleged a CPI(M) leader based in Singur.

Banerjee told partymen and supporters, "Don't even look at the walls of the Tata Motors factory. We believe in people's movement. No agitation can be launched by demolishing walls. If anybody tries to demolish walls, we will not have anything to do with them."

She said that in their letter to her the Tatas had stated that they required 600 acres for the mother plant of the small car.

"Please don't change your stand every day," she urged, pointing out that 1,000 acres were allotted for the project.

TC volunteers formed a human chain near the main gate of the Tata plant to prevent anyone from going near it and the police barricades were kept clear.

In Kolkata, CPI(M) politburo member Biman Bose urged more dialogue to sort out the Singur land impasse but claimed the number of farmers who were unwilling to part with their land was yet to be determined.

Attempts by a small group of people to attack the heavily-guarded boundary walls of the Tata Motors' small car plant were turned back by appeals by Mamata Banerjee from her microphone from her dharna 'manch' beside the car factory.

The day passed off peacefully as a result.

Banerjee today promised an indefinite agitation demanding return of 400 acres of land to farmers that was acquired for the Tata Motors small car project.