[Marxism] After Nandigram, Singur Raises Victory Flag for the People Fighting to Protect Their Lands and Livelihoods against a Marauding State

[Sukla Sen]

[After Nandigram, Singur raises victory flag for the
people fighting to protect their lands and livelihoods
against a marauding state. True, there remains still
some gap between the cup and the lip. The actual land
allotment is the final step. But, nevertheless, it is
a significant achievement in the teeth of brutal state
power.

Those who had accepted compensations earlier are bound
to repent. It will be a lesson for others in future.
And "land for land" would set a precedent. The
precedent that the government of West Bengal was so
scared of.

The blood of the young and valiant Tapasi Malik has
just not gone waste!]


I.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/At_Singur_hope_despair__joy/articleshow/3456507.cms

At Singur, hope, despair & joy
8 Sep 2008, 0240 hrs IST, Caesar Mandal & Falguni
Banerjee,TNN 

 
 
SINGUR: All through Sunday, Singur swayed between hope
and despair as the political masters decided its fate
at Raj Bhavan. 

The expectation that was building up ever since Mamata
Banerjee left to attend the meet with the Governor was
suddenly dashed in the evening when news came in that
there was another deadlock. 

Singur dug in its heels for a long night as
negotiations continued in Kolkata. When the Governor's
announcement finally came at 10.30 pm, there was a
wild roar of joy. Trinamool workers sang and danced
and cheered. Victory was theirs at last. 

The gloom over the Nano hub had earlier lifted when
Mamata decided to honour Governor Gopalkrishna
Gandhi's request and attend the meeting at Raj Bhavan.
The Trinamool leaders camping here had kept their
fingers crossed since Saturday night when it was known
that the Governor wanted Mamata's presence at the
talks table. No one was sure, however, if their
mercurial leader would attend the meet. Mamata had
made it clear she wouldn’t go to Raj Bhavan without a
proper invite. And, she would only discuss 'return of
land'. 

Around 1.15pm(local time), when Mamata emerged to
announce she would attend the meet, there was an
audible sigh of relief. Expectations ran high. If the
government agreed to return even an iota of land, it
would mean a victory for the Opposition. And success
would mean leaving Durgapur Expressway behind and
heading back to Kolkata. 

People poured out on Durgapur Expressway and cheered
as Mamata left for Kolkata accompanied by PDS leader
Samir Putatunda. But, it was too early to rejoice.
Veteran Trinamool leader Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay
asked the assembled partymen not to flash the victory
sign, yet. 

"Let Mamata come back and make the announcement. We
will wait till then," he said. As Mamata's meeting
with the Governor began at Raj Bhavan, every TV set in
Singur was switched on. Those at the dharna mancha
made repeated calls to friends and family to find out
the latest. 

As soon as news reached Singur that CM Buddhadeb
Bhattacharjee was on his way to Raj Bhavan, people
started clapping in joy. Victory was just a few steps
away. With a solution in sight, decorators and
electricians were seen asking around when they should
start packing up. Policemen on guard at the Nano plant
were happy that the crisis was over. 

With news of an impending press conference by the
Governor, it was time to celebrate. Naxalite leader
Purnendu Bose said Mamata was on her way to Singur.
Suddenly, the joy turned into despair. Word came in
that Mamata Banerjee had placed a new set of demands
before the government. The leaders went into a huddle.
The smiles were constrained. The workers tried to put
up a brave front. Tension was palpable. Finally, the
good news came in at 10.30 pm. There was wild cheering
at the dharna manch. The song-and-dance routine
started with renewed gusto. 

Mahadeb Das, one of the unwilling farmers of
Khaserbheri, was beside himself with joy. "The
government had to return the land, otherwise the Nano
plant wouldn't have happened. If the government goes
back on its words we will hit the streets once again,"
he said. 

Mamata Banerjee finally called off her agitation at
11.50pm(local time). After 14 days, Singur could
finally sleep in peace.