Nano, a poll agenda for Communist party's youth wing in West Bengal

Kolkata, Mar 28 (ANI): The youth wing of ruling Communist party in West Bengal took up Tata Nano as an issue in the ensuing elections to the Lok Sabha.

The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), youth wing of Communist Party of India (Marxist), has brought out election propaganda posters depicting Nano car and also set up hoardings of the party featuring it in Kolkata.

"About 6000 youth would have got employment if the plant would have been here in West Bengal. And directly or indirectly about ten to twelve thousand persons would have earned their livelihood through the project. There is no politics here, but our agenda is simply that development was linked to the common man. This is no politics," said Pratim Mukherjee, President, DYFI.

The posters in Bengali language reads - "The state's work culture has been murdered. The dreams of the youth of the state have been killed. Are they to be forgiven?".

Another digitally created Nano poster laments in Bengali - "My home should have been West Bengal but due to obstructions, today I am in Gujarat!".

The Nano campaign has received mixed response from residents as some voters are appreciating the different tag lines on every Nano poster while some have termed it as a political gimmick.

The tag lines are aimed towards arising emotions related to the unemployment issue in the state.

"If this issue is raised in the elections and would be beneficial for the common man of the state, then I would say raise it ten times instead of one, if it benefits our West Bengal people," said Sanjay Sharma, a resident.

However, Sukumar Sinha Roy, a retired elder citizen of Kolkata said that taking over agricultural land in the name of industry and offering jobs as compensation was not fair to the farmers in the state.

"Nano issue is just a part of the election games. The party that is saying this would themselves know as to what theory spelt out by them is wrong," said Roy.

It may be recalled that Tata Motors had suspended work at Singur in West Bengal last year after violent protests were staged by the Trinamool Congress by contending that farmers are unwilling to give up their land for the factory.

Later, the proposed plant that was half way through was shifted out of the state to Gujarat.

Consequent to moving out of West Bengal and setting up shop in Gujarat,ata Motors launched its much-awaited Nano car on March 23.

Although it was launched six months behind schedule in a subdued market, with production in the first year severely constrained and the threat of further ratings downgrades hanging over the company, it has been welcomed by the people of India.

Amidst all these trends, the company has said that it will take over a year to deliver the first 100,000 cars.

Tata Motors also posted its first ever loss in seven years with its shares declining by 70 per cent and its credit rating downgraded. (ANI)