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Paul, leading a six-member delegation representing the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), is scheduled to reach West Bengal on April 6. Speaker of the West Bengal legislative assembly Hashim Abdul Halim told The Indian Express today that Paul would be visiting Singur during his visit to the state, besides visiting other destinations such as Santiniketan.
Singur, site for the upcoming Rs 1 lakh car plant of the Tata Motors, caught the media attention last year for anti-land acquisition agitations. However, it is now among the state’s major industrial projects that have happened in the recent times and Paul’s tour to the site will be a part of his industrial excursions in the state during his stay. While Paul’s visit is a part of the regular Commonwealth Exchange Programme, the visit also involves a number of meetings. “I have received a letter from the speaker Halim on Paul’s visit. We will be meeting him. But I don’t know about his official schedule. He may go to Singur,” said Sudip Bandopadhyay, MLA and chairman of the state assembly’s standing committee on commerce, industry and industrial reconstruction.
Leader of the Congress Legislature Party Manas Bhunia said that MLAs from his party are eager to meet the delegation. Bhunia, however, added that he was not aware if Paul was visiting Singur.
The Trinamool Congress has welcomed Paul and his team. The party, however, expressed reservations on the proposed Singur visit of the delegation. “During a meeting with him earlier, I invited him to West Bengal. He then said that he wanted to meet our party chief Mamata Banerjee. I have heard that his company is possibly looking forward to invest in the state. We want him to do something for the state. But, if he wants to go to Singur, we would request him not to associate himself with the disputed place,” Partha Chatterjee, leader of the Opposition and a senior Trinamool Congress leader.
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