Singur exploded into festive mode more than a month ahead of Durga Puja minutes after the Supreme Court gave its verdict on Wednesday quashing the 2006 acquisition of agricultural land by the then left Front Government for the construction of the Nano car factory by Tata Motors.
Hundreds of people, who were waiting for the apex court’s verdict since the morning, erupted in joy as soon as the news flashed on their television screens. Within moments of the judgment asking the Bengal Government to return the acquired lands to both the willing and unwilling farmers within 12 weeks, posters of the Bengal Chief Minister were out and people including old women literally rolled on the streets, sprayed vermilion, distributed sweets, sprinkled green gulal, blew conch shells and burst crackers and what not.
Rallies were taken out and slogans like ‘Mamata Banerjee zindabad’, ‘Mamata Banerjee tomay amra bhulchi na, bhulbo na (we will never forget you)’ echoed in the air.
“Durga Puja has come early for us. It is because of didi that we have seen today’s victory...We are very happy today. Didi’s perseverance and our faith in her have finally reaped this victory,” they said expressing gratitude to Mamata who had fought a battle for months at Singur and in Kolkata, including a 26-day hunger strike.
Bimal Krishna De, a farmer from Bajemelia who lost his land said, “We dedicate our victory to Mamata and none other. She will continue to rule out heart. No land which has been cultivated for generations by our ancestors can be snatched like this. This is a lesson for those arrogant people in power who will try in future to play with farmers’ sentiments.”
Another farmer Shashibhushan Mondal said, “This is a great decision but it will be difficult to restart the cultivation there as the land has been left almost infertile.”
Bilashi Bala wife of a cultivator wondered, “What wrong did we do that the Government snatched our lands and reduced us to beggars so that we have to live on Government doles.” She too thanked the Chief Minister.
local MlA and face of the anti-land movement for returning the land to farmers, Rabindranath Bhattacharjee said, “Though the land is not cultivable now we will see what can be done now, whether we can set up an industry here or do something else.”
Others however said they would do everything to return the land to its original character.
Becharam Manna a Trinamool MlA and former Minister dropped enough hints of how the Trinamool will use the victory to push forth the Chief Minister’s prime ministerial ambitions in future.
“It is the victory for the Indian farmers and Mamata Banerjee’s name will go down in history as the real champion of their rights,” he said.
Kalyan Banerjee lawyer and TMC MP said, “Mamata Banerjee’s 26-day-fast bore fruit. Now we are happy.”