Tata's bye bye to Singur - What people have to say

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On Tuesday, Tata Motors said in a company statement that in consideration of the "hostile and intimidating" situation in Singur, "there is no way this plant could operate efficiently" and hence, "the company is evaluating alternate options for manufacturing the Nano car at other company facilities and a detailed plan to relocate the plant and machinery to an alternate site is under preparation."

It may be recalled that Tata Motors unveiled in January the snub-nosed $2500 Nano, billed as the world's cheapest car, which was hailed worldwide. The company subsequently announced that it would roll out the Nano from West Bengal where it proposed to set up a plant in Singur, outside the state capital Kolkata. The decision was welcomed by the state's ruling Communists, but trouble began after the government took over 1000 acres of farmland for the factory. The government offered compensation to about 13,000 farmers, but about 2300 farmers with smaller land holdings have either refused compensation or complained that they did not receive sufficient compensation, demanding that land be given back to them.

The disputed land measures about 400 acres.

The demonstrations, led by state opposition party Trinamool Congress (TMC), soon gathered steam and the agitators started an indefinite protest on August 24, asking for the return of the land acquired for the factory to farmers. Last week, thousands of protesters formed blockades in front of the Tata plant and on national highways and on Thursday, detained over 800 workers inside the Tata plant, forcing Ratan Tata to call for a shutdown of work.

This is what people had to say after Tata Motors announced its decision to relocate from Singur:

TRINAMOOL CONGRESS

"The decision to suspend work at the plant was Tata's own. We have not obstructed anyone. It's not my headache whether they (Tatas) leave or stay. Let there be the small car factory at Singur. They are welcome to set up the plant here if the government returns 400 acres to farmers. The issue can be settled within a minute if the state government has the will to do it" - Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee

INDIA INC.

"Seeing India's most legitimate and respected business group stymied by some politicians has shocked us. There can't be a better human face of the industry than Ratan Tata. It (Tata Nano project) is a large scale project and everything is above board and if the whole thing is brought to a stop due to politics then it certainly shakes the confidence of people investing in India" TVS Motors chairman Venu Srinivasan

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