Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Singur stalemate

Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee's fast to protest against the West Bengal Government's acquisition of land for the Tata Motors car project in Singur entered the 25th day on Thursday. The stand taken by West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee — that the project is on — is highly laudable. It would be ridiculous to call off the project at this stage. Ms. Banerjee has made her point — all governments will be more careful before granting agricultural land for industrial purposes in future.

But her action has thrown up the question of correctness of resorting to fasts as a weapon in political fights.

H.K. Seshadri,
Bangalore

The Chief Minister's approach to the issue is pragmatic. Ms. Banerjee should understand the long-term benefits of the Singur project. The political parties that are seeking to fish in troubled waters should aim at defusing the crisis.

K. Sivaraman,
Chennai

AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa has done well to advise Ms. Banerjee to end her fast as many more battles remain to be fought and won in the interests of the nation.

Fasting unto death is as evil a practice as sati. We perhaps need another Raja Ram Mohan Roy to campaign against and eradicate the political evil, which has become a national bane. Our continued obsession with Gandhigiri needs a review. Practices such as fasting are no longer relevant and should be rooted out if India is to prosper.

M.S. Ramakrishna,
Secunderabad

The Singur car project is not a luxury enterprise. Millions will benefit from it. Employment will be generated and employment-oriented development will get a boost.

V. Prasannakumar,
Kollam

The environment is already on the decline with pollution ever increasing, and road accidents are claiming more lives than any other disaster. The Singur car project will help only a few.

C.K. Raju,
Thrissur

Industrial development does play an important role in increasing a State's prosperity but it should not be undertaken at the cost of farmlands. The poor farmers of Singur have given up not their land but their livelihood. The State's economic policy should aim at promoting farmers' welfare, not at pushing them to the margins in the long run.

Sumithra Suresh,
Dindigul, T.N.

Ms. Banerjee has displayed a rare determination. Not many politicians have the courage of conviction to undertake an indefinite fast. The Left Front Government's indifference to the Gandhian style of protest and the UPA Government's lack of effective intervention to end the impasse are unfortunate.

Avuthu Srihari,
Secunderabad

If the Tata's claim about competitors fuelling the stir is true, it is unfortunate. The nation has already suffered a lot due to bitter rivalry among political parties. Now corporates seem to be getting sucked into the quagmire of politics. It is not a healthy trend. Steps should be taken to end the Singur stalemate immediately. Otherwise, the impression that administrators have no control over the happenings in the State will gain ground.

R. Prathaban,
Puducherry

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