In their fight for re-development of Singur, the residents of the West Bengal town have now demanded the direct intervention of BJP?s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in their land woes. The Tatas had pulled out of the area in 2008, after their Nano project was opposed by activists and opposition parties in the state.
?Modi took the project to Sanand in Gujarat as the chief minister of the state and we appreciate it. But if he becomes the prime minister, he has an obligation towards Singur because Gujarat gained at Bengal?s loss. We seek his special attention and we believe he can solve our problems,? Souren Patra, a panchayat representative in Singur said.
Although West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee promised returning 400 acres out of the 997 acres that were acquired for the project and even passed the Singur Land Rehablitation and Development Act in the state Assembly, the Calcutta High Court struck down the act terming it unconstitutional and void.