While deciding to move Tata Motors out of Bengal in 2008 amid the Singur protest, Ratan Tata had categorically mentioned ‘Bengal is not a closed chapter’. Almost twenty years later, it seems Mamata Banerjee and Tata Group have decided to ‘bury the hatchet’.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met with Tata Sons Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran on Wedneday at the Nabanna State Secretariat in Howrah. The meeting primarily focused exploring industrial opportunities and investment prospects in the state.
TMC saod, “The meeting reflected Bengal’s commitment to fostering meaningful public-private partnerships that drive innovation, investment, and inclusive development. “
Later the party posted on X, “Smt. @MamataOfficial hosted Shri Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons and the Tata Group, for a constructive dialogue on Bengal’s industrial growth and emerging opportunities. The meeting reflected Bengal’s commitment to fostering meaningful public-private partnerships that drive innovation, investment, and inclusive development.”
Why this meeting was significant?
Mamata Banerjee battled the CPI(M) regime in West Bengal for decades — in the Assembly, on the streets, but things came to her favour with the Singur protests against the alleged forcible farmland acquisition for the Tata Motors. The Singur protest in 2006 and another protest in Nandigram the following year is believed to be turning point, following which she came to power in Bengal in 2011, ending 34 straight years of CPI(M) rule.
In 2008, Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata announced the relocation of the Nano plant to Gujarat. He aslo expressed his frustration over the opposition protest led by Mamata Banerjee.
With Tata saying, “I think Banerjee pulled the trigger,” Mamata hit back saying, “It is an unfortunate comment of an individual blaming me for the pullout decision at Singur.”
However, even then, Tata had categorically mentioned, ‘Bengal is not a closed chapted’
Almost twenty years on, any perceived rift between Mamata Banerjee and the Tata Group seems to have been firmly put to rest.