Going back to old days, TMC to give back land to farmer
KOLKATA : Faced with pressure of Opposition, especially BJP in North Bengal and growing anti-incumbency factors for jobless young generation, Mamata Banerjee decided to return 11 acre land to farmers.
Incidentally, CPI(M)-led Left Front Government took over about 302 acres of agricultural land in North Bengal on grounds that they would be used for developments under Siliguri-Jalpaiguri Development Authority.
While it didn’t make a hue and cry of massive scale, but 52 families refused to take State Government promised rehabilitation package. And in a decision which reminds Bengal politics of Singur days, Banerjee took a decision to return 11 acre land to farmers who till now refused any state Government-sponsored package against their lands.
It is a major decision again though 11 acre out of 302 acre appears negligible, but before panchayat polls, it signals that TMC didn’t change their pro-farmer line from the days of Singur,’’ said a political observer.
However, not everyone is convinced. A senior State left leader said: We have good organizational strength in North Bengal and before panchayat polls, move will not weaken us but can create trouble.’’
Incidentally, even State BJP is also gaining grounds in the area where both rural and farmer vote-bank matters, felt Congress leader.You can see it. Out of 302, 11 acres isn’t a big deal, but it keeps the pro-farmer signal going. Isn’t it?’’ said a political commentator.
