Mamata Banerjee welcomes SC verdict on Singur land acquisition

In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court on Wednesday cancelled the deal for the  997 acres of land in West Bengal's Singur area which was allotted to Tata Motors for its Nano factory.

Banerjee called the apex court's verdict as historic.
"This is a landmark victory.I feel a lot of joy today on this historic verdict. Mingled with the joy there are also tears of joy," Banerjee said addressing a pres conference here.

"On September 2, we will observe Singur Utsav in every block of #Bengal," she announced.

Banerjee said her government does not believe in forceful acquisition.

"We believe in negotiation," Banerjee said.

"We have saying all along the land acquisition in Singur was illegal. We have been vindicated," she said.

The deal was reached by the previous Left Front government in 2006.

Amid massive protests,which was led by current state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Tata Nano factory was later shifted to Gujarat i 2008.

Banerjee was the top opposition leader of the state during that period.

The Supreme Court directed the state government to take the land into its possession and distribute it to the land owners in 12 weeks.

The apex court reached the verdict as it was hearing petitions challenging the quashing of Singur Land Acquisition Act by the Calcutta High Court.

The Supreme Court questioned the way in which more than  400 acres of land was allotted to the car manufacturer by not adhering to the section 4 and 5 of the Land Acquisition Act.

The sections of the Act mandates public notice for receiving objections.

A total of 997 acres of land in Singur was given to the Tatas for their dirt-cheap Nano car factory by the previous Left Front government, triggering huge protest led by Mamata Banerjee and supported by various civil society groups.