India / Singur makes CPM wiser

Statesman News Service KOLKATA, Dec. 15: Taking lessons from Singur, the Left leadership, particularly the CPI-M, has lined up at least four major political rallies in South 24-Parganas to convince the general public before land acquisition begins in the district for various infrastructure building and urbanisation projects including that of the Salim Group.

Nearly 13,000 acres will be acquired in South 24- Parganas for shifting of headquarters from Alipore to Baruipur, the Barasat-Raichak Eastern Link Expressway, Knowledge City and Health City and Township projects of Salim Group in the district.

Unlike Singur where the CPI-M is said to have faltered for not taking into account public feeling and steam rolling administrative decisions, this time the party has moved up ahead, preparing the ground by holding smaller rallies and door-to-door campaign ahead of acquisition.

Now the party has decided to build up on the lead by organising four major rallies to be addressed by Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Mr Nirupam Sen.

The very first of these rallies at Magrahat on 23 December will be addressed by Mr Subhas Chakraborty.

The three other rallies will be held at Baruipur, Bhangar and Diamond Harbour. Bhangar, where the party has lost the Assembly seat on the issue of land acquisition, will have industry minister Mr Nirupam Sen as the prime speaker. Nearly 1,500 acres will be acquired in Bhangar for the Salim Group’s proposed project of Heath City and Knowledge City as well as a township.

The district administration has so far issued notification for the 500 acres at Baruipur for shifting of headquarters. Land and land reforms minister Mr Abdur Razzak Molla said: “We will issue notification for acquisition whenever we get the go-ahead.”