Mamata Banerjee came to power riding on the anti-land grab movement in Singur. On the day the Supreme Court set aside the 2006 land acquisition process, Banerjee called the verdict a “historic one” and a “landmark victory” for her.

The stand against forcible land acquisition has been vindicated. It is victory of truth and justice, she remarked.

“We have been saying all along (that) the land acquisition in Singur was illegal. Our stand has been vindicated,” the Chief Minister said during a press conference. “I had only one job left: to return the land of farmers of Singur. I have tears of joy. Now I can die in peace,” she added.

Historical suicide Dedicating her party’s slogan of ‘Ma Mati Manush’ to its association with the Singur movement; Banerjee saluted the spirit of the farmers who did not bow down to ‘injustice’.

According to her, the CPI(M) committed a “historical suicide” by opting for forcible acquisition of land (in Singur). “The CPI(M) committed historical suicide not historical blunder in Singur,” she said.

Tatas react Tata Motors pointed out that “it will study” the judgment before making a comment.

“The case, in which the judgment was delivered today, related to the acquisition of land by the State government, before it was leased to Tata Motors. Our case relating to Singur Act of 2011 is yet to be heard by the Supreme Court. We will study today’s judgment in detail before commenting further on the same,” a spokesperson said in an e-mailed response.

Meanwhile, farmers in Singur erupted in joy post the verdict. The mood was celebratory.

Conch shells were blown as they smeared each other in green abir. Victory processions were taken out across various villages. Pictures of Banerjee were also garlanded. Officially, the State government will celebrate September 2 as ‘Singur Day’.

TMC MLA and one of the faces of the Singur movement, Rabindranath Bhattacharya, travelled on foot to meet people and congratulate them.

Opposition reactions Leader of Opposition and Congress MLA, Abdul Mannan, pointed out that his party was against forceful land acquisition. “We sincerely hope that farmers get back their land in the old and cultivable state,” he said.

CPI(M) State Secretary and politburo member, Surjya Kanta Mishra, pointed out that his party was not against return of land to the farmers.

However, party leader and former city mayor, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya, said the verdict and the State government’s stand on the same “sends out a wrong message to industry”.

Industry captains in Bengal maintain that the Singur verdict will not impact future investments here.

According to Harsh Neotia, Chairman, Ambuja Neotia Group, and President of FICCI, the verdict relates to the “legality of the acquisition” and not on the business aspect. “I do not think that there is any observation on the business aspect. And hence, it is unlikely to affect future investments,” he said.

CK Dhanuka, MD, Dhunseri Tea, agrees with Neotia. “I do not think that the verdict will affect industry or investments in Bengal. It has nothing to do with business.”

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