Thousands join Singur march asking for rights

Thousands of people took out a march in Singur on Tuesday demanding the West Bengal government to end miseries of the unwilling farmers. The people have been demanding hike in  government assistance package to Singur farmers whose lands were forcibly taken for Tata Motors Nano car project in 2008.

About five thousand activists of CPIML (Liberation) and its partner parties including All India Left Coordination (AILC) marched through Gopalnagar, Khaserbheri, Bajemilia and Beraberi to reach the walled plots, which were leased out to Tata Motors.

Activists of Democratic Communist Party (Marxist) of West Medinipur and Marxbadi Manch of Assansol also participated in the Singur March. They addressed number of street corners to convey their position regarding present impasse.

Talking to TSI, Partha Ghosh, state secretary, CPIML (Liberation) alleged, “A group of Trinamool Congress activists initially tried to prevent the march despite police presence as it goes against the state government. But, understanding overwhelming discontent among the Singur farmers and our presence in good number, they left the place.”

CPIML (Liberation) has demanded Rs 7,000 as allowance to each unwilling farmer who has lost his land to the Tata project and Rs 7 lakh as compensation for their land. “To press for our demand, we will sit in for Dharna in Kolkata from July 10 onwards,” Ghosh announced.

CPI(M) Chief Whip in State Assembly Abdur Rezzak Mollah appealed his supporters to join today's rally in large number. However, he could not participate as his party didn’t approve the programme sponsored by CPIML (Liberation) and its partners.

“Thousands of Singur farmers welcomed the marchers. Participation of Singur’s women on the road was ample enthusiasm for the protesters,” claimed Partha Ghosh.

Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) (SUCI-C) also held a rally at Singur last week demanding hike in monthly allowances for unwilling farmers and compensation for their land. On Monday, a state CPI delegation too visited Singur and talked to the farmers who have already sold their land with the expectation of getting jobs at Nano factory, but were left disappointed.

A former Chief Justice of Bombay High Court has expressed solidarity with the farmers’ movement saying that state government’s appeal to Supreme Court’s bench might take years together, but farmers can’t wait for their sustenance.