today

Hindustan Times says: The Singur agitation can be seen as an effort by Mamata Banejree to replenish her political clout. But she is on the wrong side of the wind. The process of globalisation and the associated industrialisation is irreversible. Singur is just a manifestation of this truism.

But from the US we have: Nothing better illustrates the relentless rightward thrust of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPM] than the pro-investor economic policies that West Bengal’s CPM-led Left Front government is implementing with the support of the police and courts. West Bengal’s Stalinist-led government has responded to the anti-land seizure protest campaign, which has included petitions, demonstrations, strikes, and sits-ins, with derisory propaganda and by unleashing violent state repression

And even the "Hindu" admits: Trinamool Congress chief, Mamata Banerjee, today said she would not oppose the proposed Tata Motors plant in Singur if it was not built on multi-crop land. "Almost across the road from where the Tata Motors' car plant is proposed to be set up, vacant low-lying plots are available. "Tata Motors can go there to set up its factory. We will cooperate in identifying the plots."

Tehelka also has something to say: Of people’s rights, of displacement, Patkar can pick Singur up and link to a long chain of issues lashing against such giants as the State and Globalisation. The Left Front and the CPM would do better to explain their position on private investment and enterprise — to Patkar and to their larger constituency — in a more layered and articulate fashion.

IMO: Pity yet another pollution causing car plant is to be built. Japanese manufacturers claim they cannot reach even the relatively low anti-pollution standards of India at the price quoted by Tata. I wonder if Tata can. And if the land is available elsewhere nearby anyhow it seems a pity that the protests apparently meet with police violence and newspaper lies.