CPI admits LF govt’s ‘mistake’ on Singur land acquisition

Hyderabad, Sep 2 (PTI) The Communist Party of India (CPI)has admitted that the erstwhile Left Front government in WestBengal had made a "mistake" in the land acquisition process inSingur for the proposed Tata Motors project. "Though the government had taken over the land with thegood intention of bringing in a big industry which would haveprovided employment and revenue to the state, the methodadopted was not correct," CPI general secretary S SudhakarReddy told PTI. "They (the Left government) should have convinced thepeasants. Those who did not want (to give land), should havebeen given alternative lands and more compensation (shouldhave been paid) and all that. Unfortunately, the governmentthere made a mistake," he said. Reddy was responding to queries on the Supreme Courtverdict which, on Wednesday, quashed the entire landacquisition process carried out by the erstwhile Left Frontgovernment in West Bengal. He said since the intention of the then West Bengalgovernment to bring in the industry was good, there was noneed now to offer an apology to the affected farmers. "We should certainly take lessons. This type of a mistakeshould not be committed. When a private entity is to start anindustry, the government can subsidise and if necessary, itshould be asked to provide more money," he said. The CPI leader said the Singur episode had created a"negative impression" of the Left Front’s attitude towardsfarmers and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee took"full advantage" of it politically. "Instead of asking for the land to be given back to thefarmers, she should have asked for better things such asland-for-land, more compensation, employment for thosedisplaced and compensation for agricultural labourers. Butinstead, she went for a political fight," Reddy said. "She was successful in creating a negative impressionabout the Left but on the whole, Bengal lost (a big industry).I believe that even in the coming period, there will be anegative impact (on industrial investment)," he added. PTI RSDKRC