Protest against anti-Tata protests

Singur is on the boil again. Unending roadblocks, trenches dug for a long siege and a polarised atmosphere, report Sujit Nath & Snigdhendu Bhattacharya.

Singur is on the boil again. Unending roadblocks, trenches dug for a long siege and a polarised atmosphere.

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But the big difference is that the ‘blockade’ is now directed against those who have driven the Tata Nano project away from West Bengal.

The national highway was blocked by a section of farmers who sold their land to the government and suppliers to the factory. “More than 500 contractors have suffered major losses due to the Tata pull-out,” said Sailen Sahana, a supplier, “It’s a matter of our livelihood. We want them (Tata Motors) back.”

Many villagers have complained that the police have been turning a blind eye to people going into the Tata plant and stealing construction material. “[Ratan] Tata wanted to know about the source of [anti-Tata Motors agitation] funds, This is one of the sources,” quipped a farmer.