Ahmedabad: Opposition Congress today came out in support of farmers demanding compensation for the land given to Tata for Nano Car Project by the BJP-led Gujarat Government.
"The state government has given land of farmers to Tata. That land was taken by the British Government in 1911 on a lease of 99 years from farmers of Khoda, Sanand and Bod villages," Congress spokesman Arjun Modhvadia said.
"The 2,251 acres of land was acquired by Mumbai Presidency's British Governor North Court to build a conservation park to save Kankrej breed of cows," he added. In 1940, the land was handed over to Anand Agriculture University, Modhvadia said.
Farmers of Khoda and Bod village have now demanded compensation for the land from district administration saying that the land given to Tata belonged to their forefathers. However, the district collector has turned down the demand saying that the land was acquired by the government in 1911 and farmers have no right on that land.
Modhvadia said the farmers whose land was taken for 99 years lease should be compensated, adding, "The state government has given a prime piece of land outside the city to Tatas. Instead, they should have alloted land to them on the areas which are less industrialised."
He also criticised the publicity being done for the Nano Car Project by Chief Minister Narendra Modi and his government.
"The project will just bring in an investment of Rs 1,500 crore to the state and will also not create a big employment opportunity for locals as the Tata has promised to relocate those who were employed in Singur to here," he said.
He further said a number of big investments have come earlier in the state during the Congress rule, but government never tried to gain political mileage out of them.
