Mamata lashes out at CPI(M) over Singur

The Singur issue has become a bone of contention between the CPI(M) and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with both sides trading charges over the last two days. Addressing the gathering at a government program in the Kalna area of East Bardhaman district on Friday the Chief Minister lashed out at the CPI(M) and accused it of forcibly acquiring farm land when it was in power.

“Those who snatched land from farmers at Singur, tried to capture Nandigram and killed hundreds in the name of Maoists are now delivering pompous speeches,” said Banerjee. Her comments come a day after CPI(M) accused her of driving away industry from Bengal and failing to keep her promises to the farmers of Singur whose land was acquired by the erstwhile Left Front government for the Tata Motor’s Nano car factory.

The Chief Minister also said that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has fulfilled its promise of returning the acquired land to farmers and is the state government is currently paying a monthly allowance of Rs. 2000 to the concerned farmers.

Taking a swipe at the Centre’s claim of doubling the income of farmers by 2022, Banerjee claimed that under the TMC government the farmers’ income has already increased three times in Bengal.

“Our government is not like the one at the Centre which can only spread lies, conspire and incite riots,” said Banerjee.

She further accused the Centre of dragging its feet over issuing final clearance for coal extraction at the Deocha Pachami Harinsingha Dewanganj Coal Mines Birbhum district, said to be the second largest coal mine in the world. It is spread over nearly 9 square km.

"We want to start the Deocha Pachami coal mine immediately. But since Centre is sitting on it (final clearance) it is getting delayed. When it starts nearly 1 lakh youth will get directly and indirectly employed and there will be an investment of Rs 12,000 crores,” said Banerjee.