Blindsided by PM Singur speech, state BJP netas scramble to justify omission
Times of India | 20 January 2026
Singur/Kolkata: Seemingly blindsided by PM Narendra Modi's Sunday speech in Singur, which made no mention of Tata or an industry, Bengal BJP netas on Monday spoke in many voices, trying to justify a "considered omission".
A state BJP senior said that issues concerning industrialisation, Hooghly, and Singur in particular had been sent to the PMO, but the PM chose not to mention anything about the factory. The senior called this move a "considered omission by the PM". Ahead of the PM's visit, many BJP netas, including junior Union minister Sukanta Majumdar, had been trying to create a narrative around the exit of the Tatas.
Speaking on this, Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said in New Delhi on Monday: "The presence of the PM in Singur in itself was a message for industrialisation. Certain things are better unsaid."
Earlier in the day, BJP's former state unit chief Dilip Ghosh felt that it would be pointless to talk about prospective investment by large companies, since there was "no conducive environment" in the state. "Which industrialist is going to take the risk unless the law and order situation in the state improves? Industrialists from Bengal shifted to neighbouring Odisha. The PM is well aware of the reality," Ghosh said.
BJP neta Sajal Ghosh felt that mention of a prospect in Singur would not solve the lack of industries in Bengal. "We have to go for large-scale industrialisation across the state. Closed factories have to be reopened," he said.
However, BJP's Singur netas felt that the PM could have sent a direct message to the farmers. BJP's Singur unit neta Sanjay Pandey said: "Modiji correctly pointed out that Bengal did not have an environment conducive to industrialisation. However, it would have been better if he expressed his thoughts in more concrete terms, as the farmers joined the rally with an expectation."
Raju Mal, a Bharatiya Janata Majdoor Cell neta said that acquired land in Singur was still under litigation.
"It seems that he decided not to mention the issue, keeping several related aspects in mind. The PM may not have mentioned Tata Motors in his speech, but he spoke about the law and order situation, which is detrimental to the growth of industry in the state."
BJP's Hooghly organisational district president Gautam Chatterjee was, however, happy with PM Modi's cluster-based and district-wise blueprint for industrialisation in Bengal.
"He spoke about the ways to empower the poor, and that is applicable to every district," he said.