Tata's remark divides NDA

Tata Motors chairperson Ratan Tata's statement that his corporate rivals were fanning protests against land acquisition for their Singur plant has evoked different responses from within the NDA, which is trying hard to put up a joint front on the issue.

While the BJP, which is chary of annoying a big industrial house like the Tatas, is silent, the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress has taken the Tata's remarks as a personal affront.

BJP President Rajnath Singh said Tata's remarks were "not important" to the present discourse. "We have nothing to say on the matter," he said.

The BJP leaders say their support to Banerjee is political. "Why should we alienate Ratan Tata, we are only concerned about farmers," a senior BJP leader said.

Rajya Sabha MP from the Trinamool Congress, Dinesh Trivedi, however. did not mince words. "Ratan Tata should have the sensitivity to appreciate that Mamata Banerjee has been fasting for 25 days out of sincere concern for the farmers of Singur," he said.

He dared Tata to give the names of the rivals he said had been instigating opposition to the project. "I want him to name those people who he suspects have instigated this protest," he said. He added Tata's statement shows his insensitivity to the plight of the Singur's farmers. "This is a political protest, with no reference to any business house," said Trivedi.

The BJP has already made it clear that it does not want to spoil its relationship with any industrial house and that it is only the aim of keeping Banerjee in the NDA fold that has brought it up against industrial development in any state.