TATAs DECISION TO PULL OUT IS A VICTORY OF PEOPLE’S POWER OVER THAT OF THE CORPORATE STATE

Date: 03-10-2008

TATAs DECISION TO PULL OUT IS A VICTORY OF PEOPLE’S POWER OVER THAT OF THE
CORPORATE STATE

LET THE MESS BE CLEARED UP AND LESSON LEARNT


We, the people’s movements, welcome the decision of Ratan Tata and Tata
Motors to withdraw their Nano Car Project from the land of Singur that belongs
to the people, which is a victory of the people’s movement supported by the
political parties, especially the Trinamool Congress and SUCI, with other
people’s organizations, which supported the Krishi Jamin Raksha Committee,
including NAPM, West Bengal with its allies, especially the Pachim Banga Khet
Mazdoor Samithi The conflict that gets redressed with this decision after many
ups and downs and threats and promises was not just between the Opposition
Party and the CMP Govt. of West Bengal as Tata tried to depict, but was rather
one between the state and its people. We are happy that the prime and
irrigated
and agricultural land of Singur would now be rightfully restored back to the
hardworking rural communities.

The people’s decision has ultimately over powered as against the opposite
view, backed by statutory and monetary power.  We wish Tata respects
people’s
views and it will be unfortunate if Tata asserts that it has taken the
decision
considering only the security of its staff and allies and not that of the
people of Singur – the farmers, bargadars (share croppers) and the labourers
and have not conceded to the people’s demands for their own livelihood
security.

Even if Tatas go away to Karnataka or Gujarat or elsewhere it would behove
them
to follow the democratic process and seek the consent of communities and not
just the State before its cars or machines enter their land and before it
makes
any agreement with the State. The least of corporate social responsibility
demands this as a basic principle to be followed in the industrialization
process, be it in the name of SEZ or other project. Only this would decide
whether and how would the people choose the right kind of industries that
would
be employment generating, livelihood securing and environment-protecting.

Common people in the country and the would over know that the real people’s
issue behind the Singur struggle as also Nandigram, Nandagudi, Kakinada,
Raigad, Gorai, or elsewhere was undemocratic and unjust as well as forcible
occupation of people’s land. It was also manipulation of people resources
imposing transfer from agriculture to industry, not even of their choice. The
movement cannot be said to be either against industrialization or development
per say. Rather the struggles such as Singur have helped initiate a public
debate on the conception of development, the planning process vis-à-vis the
constitutional framework and the land acquisition as per the British law.

What is being questioned is the imposition of and undue push given to the
corporate culture as against people’s interest, when no consent is sought
from the immediate losers, who are never listed nor are they fairly
compensated
or rehabilitated. The displaced and deprived therefore have and will have a
right to assert their decision if the State does not follow the democratic
processes. The folly and fraud of the CPM Govt. is once again exposed after
Nandigram and all kinds of oppression and repression or even the allegations
of
sedition have failed miserably before the people’s power.

There is no doubt that Mamata Baneejee has played a leading role in support of
the people, who refused to give in to money, market and muscle power. We must
also congratulate the intellectuals, artists and various people’s
organizations in West Bengal who remained with the struggle through and
through
with an uncompromising position coming out of a clarity on the ideology of
development, which is going to be the issue of utmost priority in the coming
days. Shri Gopal Krishna Gandhi the Governor of West Bengal has exhibited the
role that every Governor can play in the situation of conflict or even
stalemate, which must be recognized.

The self-withdrawal by Ratan Tata in spite of the CPM Govt. not taking a clear
position in favour of its own people should set an example for others like the
Ambanis’ who are facing conflict after conflict at many places. However,
following this withdrawal, the CPM and Tata together must also clear up the
mess by making the occupied land free and restoring the previous land records
as also compensating the losses borne by the farmers, share croppers and
labourers, as per the package that was being offered. This amounting to a few
crores to Rs. 1500 crores of loss as reported by TATAs would indeed bring a
part of the credibility back to the State Government and the corporates both.

The whole struggle of Singur with the valiant martyrdom of Rajkumar Bhul,
Tapasi Malik and others has reinforced our faith in the non-violent peaceful
struggles that only can save land, water, forests and aquatic or mineral
wealth
of the country from unjustified usurpation for profits over people.

We hope the Parliament, political parties, the various Governments, the
corporate and the Judiciary take a lesson from this long drawn conflict and
support a respectable way out in the situation of conflict be it in Narmada,
Noida, Nandgudi or elsewhere. Singur also once again proves that everything
that industries do, whether in the form of SEZ or forcible acquisition of land
is not legitimate and this must hence forth be remembered by all parties. We
also demand withdrawal of the proposed amendments to the proposed Land
Acquisition Act, with a weak rehabilitation Bill, which equates private
purpose
with public purpose.




Medha Patkar     Anand Mazgaonkar     Mukta Srivastava          P. Chennaiah