Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Singur issue

The protests in West Bengal against the Government's decision to acquire farmland for the Tata Motors small car factory should be seen in a broader perspective and not in isolation. In Bangalore, the phenomenal growth of the IT sector, real estate boom, the setting up of international airport, etc., have led to thousands of farmers selling their land to make quick gains. The land where farmers grew mango, grapes, tomatoes, greens, and foodgrains such as ragi has become a residential or commercial site. The city's thick green cover has given way to a concrete jungle. It is time all right thinking people helped in ending the menace of using agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes. Otherwise, soon we will be exporting software solutions and importing foodgrains.

B.N. Bharath,
Virajpet, Karnataka

The Singur issue has come at a time when West Bengal is struggling hard to overcome the image of an investor-unfriendly State mired in labour problems. It bagged the dream project after competing with other States. Apart from providing jobs directly and indirectly to many, the project will contribute to the exchequer. The Trinamool Congress is opposing it only to gain political mileage.

P.L. Reghu,
Thiruvananthapuram

All parties have the same policy on Special Economic Zones. While at the Centre, the CPI (M) is opposing SEZs, in West Bengal it is seeking to implement the concept in Singur. The Trinamool Congress is opposed to the project with the BJP, which has always supported SEZs, and the Congress, which is for more and more SEZs, supporting it. It is clear that it is not policy but politics that matters.

Ravinder S. Mann,
Haldwani, Uttaranchal

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