New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday refused to comment on Tata Motors moving the Calcutta High Court against the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act, saying it is their "prerogative" and "democratic right" to do so.
"They (Tata Motors) have gone to court. They can. It is their prerogative, it is their democratic right. I cannot comment about the court, but land (is) with government.
Possession is with Government, whatever we have done we have done according to law," she said.
She said returning back the land was a Cabinet decision and the bill has already been passed in this regard.
"Whatever we will do we will do according to law, according to Government policy and it is our policy to return back land to the people," she said.
The Calcutta High Court today, however, did not pass any interim order on the Tata Motors' petition challenging Act 2011 by which the West Bengal government has taken back possession of the land leased to the company at Singur.
Tata Motors moved the petition before the court pleading that the Act and all its consequences be declared unconstitutional, illegal, bad in law and void.
Talking about the issue of land acquisition, the Chief Minister said the stand of the Government was clear on the issue against "forceful" acquisition of the land and industrialists are "happy" with the Government's position.
"We met the industrialist (last week in Kolkata). I said forcefully, we are not going to acquire the land, it our land policy. Industrialist are happy. There are no problem," she said.
Mamata also criticised the Left for their agitation against an open cast colliery of Eastern Coalfields Limited at Hansdigha in Burdwan district yesterday, saying they are responsible for the present economy of the state.
"CPM people went to close Coal India. Tell them not to behave like this. MPs and MLAs went to close pit of Coal India. They started beating the people. We wont allow unit to close. Place your demands. You (the Left) have closed down industry worth Rs 55,000 crore. Economy is closed. Are you going to close the industry," she said.
Police in the district had yesterday dispersed protesters agitating against an open cast colliery of Eastern Coalfields Limited at Hansdigha.
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