BJP PRESIDENT IN COOCHBEHAR

BJP not in favour of Singur dharna

 

COOCH BEHAR, Sept. 1: The BJP may extend support to the movement at Singur if it is a movement of the unwilling peasants whose cultivable lands were acquisitioned for the Tata's small car project. But, if the dharna is for dharna only they will not proceed. Going a bit farther the president of the state unit of the BJP Mr Satyabrata Mukherjee said on Tuesday that West Bengal will have to suffer a great loss if the Tatas go back from this state. It will certainly sent wrong message to the entrepreneurs and industrialists and following that the industrialisation process in this state will have to face a set back, the BJP leader believes.

 

Referring the dharna led by Trinamul chief Miss Mamata Bannerjee, the BJP leader said the Governor might not come up as the mediator to solve the stalemate because he has many constitutional limitations.

 

The state BJP president was talking with media persons at the Circuit House in Cooch Behar on Tuesday. He came here as a part of his district tour after being the president. He will visit Alipurduar tomorrow and then he will go to Jalpaiguri and Siliguri too.

 

Mr Mukherjee said the government should arrange tillable land as alternative and adequate compensation for the unwilling farmers of Singur whose lands were acquisitioned. The government should consider extending financial assistance, employment and compensation to the affected farmers.

 

The BJP leader emphasised on discussion over the Singur issue to solve the problem. The government should disclose the contents of the agreement that was signed with the Tatas. They should make public the special privileges offered to the Tatas. The problems of the peasants should be considered on humanitarian ground. "We also want industrialisation but there should be transparency. It is hard to understand why the government is keeping the contents of the agreement concealed", he said.

 

"We wanted to know the details under the Right to Information Act but the government is yet to satisfy us with the details. I met the chief minister on 28 August and he assured me that he will disclose everything within seven days through website. Let's see what he does", the senior BJP leader said.

 

The state BJP president alleged that the country achieved its Independence 61 years ago but the north Bengal is still a deprived and neglected region. The elected public representatives too failed to do good for the people. The tea industry is also a suffering one. Communication systems like National Highway, air service and train service are also not satisfactory enough, he alleged. []