In a bid to placate them, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday doubled the monthly allowance for the unwilling farmers of Singur from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000.
On Friday, the Calcutta high court had declared the new Singur law “ unconstitutional and void” jeopardising Ms Banerjee’s plans to return 400 acres from the 1,000 acres of Tata Motors’ now-defunct Nano project area to the unwilling farmers. This made the unwilling farmers in Singur very upset.
“As you all know I had announced Rs 1,000 for the farmers and farm labourers in Singur on May 19. But due to inflation this amount is considered rather inadequate and therefore from July 1, they will get Rs 2,000 every month instead of Rs 1,000 till their land is returned. This will come as some relief to them. They will continue to receive rice for Rs 2 per kg,” Ms Banerjee announced on Wednesday afternoon.
The announcement at the Writers’ Buildings sparked a row in the state Assembly. Raising the issue during the discussion on the commerce and industries department budget, leader of Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra said that it was a breach of privilege to the House. “When the Assembly is in session, no important announcement can be made outside the House. The chief minister’s doubling of Singur aid announcement at the Writers’ Buildings amounts to breach of privilege to the members of the House. Was the state commerce and industries minister informed about it?” Dr Mishra raised.
State commerce and industries minister Partha Chatterjee did not reply. It made Dr Mishra agitated. He demanded the Speaker’s ruling. Speaker Biman Banerjee said that he was unaware of such a statement. “I will give my ruling after knowing the fact,” he said.
Mr Chatterjee also claimed that he did not think it was breach of privilege to the House. Unhappy over the versions of the Speaker and the minister, the Left Front staged a walkout from the House.
Earlier, while giving reply to the budget discussion, Mr Chatterjee said that the land at Singur was now in possession of the state government. “What the judiciary has said is a different thing. It is a matter of time (that the land will be returned to the unwilling farmers). Time has not come to say whether the high court’s verdict is final or not. Many doors are still open. We are trying to find a path to resolve the issue,” he informed the House.
Meanwhile, left red-faced by governor M.K. Narayanan’s statement that the legal advice given to him made him feel that the President’s assent was not required for the new Singur bill, the state government on Wednesday embarked on a damage control exercise.
Mr Chatterjee called on Mr Narayanan and reportedly conveyed to him chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s acute discomfiture over his statement. Mr Narayanan informed him that he had merely stated a fact without blaming the state government.
Mr Chatterjee has urged him to make another statement which would help the state government save face.