Intellectuals protest land acquisition at Singur

Kolkata, Jan 24 (UNI) Extending solidarity with the farmers of Singur and Nandigram, artistes and intellectuals held a street meeting here today condemning ''forcible'' acquisition of agricultural land for industrial development.

Apprehending that the move could destabilise rural society, most of the speakers criticised the Left Front Government and called for a broadbased platform of the elite to continue movement against its policy.

Questioning how a displaced farmer would be cut out for the job of an industrial worker in the proposed new paradigm, film maker Aparna Sen called for setting up industrial units on fallow land as far as possible.

Taking a pot shot at the Government which she had earlier campaigned for before the Assembly elections, Ms Sen asked what prompted the administration to clamp prohibitory orders at Singur.

''I wonder what is the need for imposing section 144 Cr PC at Singur that prevented Ms Medha Patkar from visiting the area if really the famers have voluntarily given away their land for the Tata Motors' small car factory, '' she said.

She also expressed apprehension that the environment would be more polluted and streets would be clogged once the Rs one-lakh cars rolled out of the factory.

Alleging that Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was ''telling lies'' on his move for industrialisation, singer Kabir Suman said there was a ''fishy deal'' between the Government and the Tata.

He also called Mr Bhattacharjee a ''Hindu fascist'' for allegedly having said a communal propaganda against acquisition of land was one of the reasons for the Nandigram unrest.

Holding Tata equally ''responsible'' as the state Government for the present situation, National Alliance for People's Movement(NAPM) member Anuradha Talwar called for an agitation against the industrial house to keep up the movement.

Noted writers, painters and professionals were among other speakers present at the meeting held in the background of posters and cartoons protesting land acquisition and state atrocities on farmers.

UNI