As Bombay House is gearing up for a new innings with Cyrus Mistry, the West Bengal government led by Mamata Banerjee — who had led an indefinite siege in Singur against the Nano project, which ultimately resulted in its relocation — is now hoping for a turnround in its relationship with the Tata Group that might end the protracted battle.
“We are not against any industrial group. There is a change in the top management (in the Tata Group). You will see what happens next,” said Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee.
Chatterjee said he telephoned Mistry to congratulate him on his assignment.
Responding to a query whether he was hopeful for an out-of-court settlement on the Singur issue, Chatterjee said, “The head of the organisation decides the matter. I am hopeful.”
The sudden change of heart on the part of the state became apparent as the minister quickly pointed out that the government was inviting Mistry for its annual industrial meet, Bengal Leads, set for next month. This is the first time the Banerjee-led government is inviting the Tata Group chairman for a state-sponsored event.
A few weeks ago, when asked on the absence of a representative from the industrial house at the investors’ meet in New Delhi, Chatterjee said the government “did not feel it necessary to invite the Tatas”.
Many in the Trinamool Congress (TMC) say Banerjee’s Singur movement against “forcible land acquisition” by the previous Left front government had somehow turned into a feud with Ratan Tata.
During the Singur agitation in 2008, Banerjee had often pointed fingers at Tata, alleging his “collusion” with the then chief minister Budhadeb Bhattacharjee for Singur land acquisition. TMC leaders pointed out that Tata, too, had made personal attacks on Banerjee, with comments such as “Banerjee has pulled the trigger” and “There is a bad ‘M’ and a good ‘M’, after Narendra Modi-ruled Gujarat became the home for the Nano project.
As Mistry takes over the reins of the group on Friday, the state, believes this could be a starting point for a breakthrough in Singur deadlock.
“A government cannot afford to continue a stand against an industrial group like that of the Tatas. But unfortunately, over the last few years, things have moved in a way where even if you wanted, you could not rebuild the relationship. Ratan Tata’s retirement might just give the exit route for the government to end this feud against Tatas,” said a senior TMC leader.
Also, the TMC top leadership is under pressure as there are many in the party, who, like rebel Singur MLA Rabindranath Bhattacharya, want the state government to initiate talks with Tata Motors to resolve the dispute. Senior leaders such as state panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee have also recently gone public asking the government to look for an out-of-court settlement with Tata Motors on the Singur land issue.
As of now, the matter is headed for another round of legal battle between the state government and Tata Motors in the Supreme Court, after the Calcutta High Court quashed the state legislation passed by the TMC government to take back the land leased to Tata Motors.
