‘We commit to return unwilling farmers’ lands in Singur’

Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Saturday assured that her government will give back the land of the unwilling farmers in Singur which was acquired by the Left Front government for Tata’s Nano factory.

She was addressing a rally in support of party nominees on Saturday afternoon.

Banerjee said that the land was acquired by the Left Front government. But she will give back the land of the unwilling farmers as she always keeps her words. “I haven’t forgotten the promises made by me and I will keep my words. The Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill, 2011 was passed soon after our government came to power. But the land couldn’t be returned due to legal issues,” she said. Banerjee maintained that the Tata had moved to the Court and the matter is still sub judice.

Stating that Singur is a sacred place, she said that her visit there was not to campaign for the elections but to take blessings of the people here and to touch the sacred soil of Singur. She said that the people of Singur will win one day. “You all do not need to call me the day Singur will win. I will myself come here and say what needs to be said,” she said.

She once again took a dig at the CPI(M) saying that the party leaders had never looked into the problems of the people here. Instead they went on spreading canards. “There had been an overall development of Singur in the past four and a half years. Kishan Bazar, ITI college and many other projects have come up in here,” she said. In another rally at Arambagh she said CPI(M) will get even less seats in 2016 Assembly election. She said that Prafulla Sen before his death had regretted that because of him, CPI(M) could come to power in 1977. “CPI(M) had heckled Prafullada and had spread canards against him. They said that he had purchased Stephen House. It was a big lie and CPI(M) went on circulating this. Prafulla was honest to the core and when I was beaten up by CPI(M) cadres he used to take ask how I was keeping in hospital.” She said CPI(M) had unleashed a reign of terror in the area. People were not allowed to vote. They did not have any freedom of speech and CPI(M) used to control everything. “People still remember CPI(M)’s reign of terror in Goghat. I remember that we could not do meetings in Goghat because of the CPI(M) cadres.” Banerjee maintained that Congress’ fate would be sealed because of hobnobbing with the CPI(M). CPI(M) is the biggest opportunist party and is now trying to secure its position by holding Congress’ hands.” She said in the past 34 years CPI(M) did nothing except take loans and Trinamool Congress government had to repay it. “Major portion of the loan went to the party funds and that is why no development had taken place in the state. “It is CPI(M)’s policy not to improve the living condition of people. They are interested only in votes and consolidating the party’s position,” she said adding that people have understood CPI(M)’s game plan and would vote them out.

Banerjee said in the following phases Trinamool Congress would do well as the areas were under TMC’s control. “On May 19 when the results will be out, the Opposition will see their position. We will treat them with sweets and water,” she said. The TMC chief urged party workers to keep intimate contact with people and to stand by them in their times of need. “TMC is committed to help the poor and the needy and will continue to do so in the future,” she said. She said Hooghly’s communication would improve once the road connecting Midnapore to Murshidabad via Hooghly was completed. The schemes like Khadyasathi, Kanyashree and Sabuj Sathi had helped all cross sections of people.