‘Tata will return’: BJP invokes Singur as it renews push for industrial revival
The Statesman | 31 May 2026
West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya on Friday said his party was committed to bringing the Tata Group back to the state, reviving memories of the Singur episode and positioning industrialisation as a key pillar of the BJP’s vision for Bengal’s future.
The remarks come against the backdrop of the long-running political and economic debate surrounding Singur, from where Tata Motors shifted its Nano project in 2008 amid sustained protests over land acquisition. The exit became one of the defining moments in Bengal’s industrial history and continues to feature prominently in political discourse on investment and employment.
In a post on social media, Bhattacharya recalled October 3, 2008, when Tata left Singur and said the departure had left a lasting scar on the state’s collective memory.
He argued that the consequences extended beyond the loss of a single company, saying that when industries leave, employment opportunities shrink, development slows and the future prospects of young people suffer.
Making a pitch for industrial growth, the BJP leader said his party viewed industrialisation as the only sustainable route to Bengal’s economic progress. He added that the BJP had taken upon itself the responsibility of creating conditions that would encourage Tata’s return to the state.
Bhattacharya also said the party wanted to restore Bengal’s status as a major industrial destination and attract fresh investment capable of generating employment opportunities for the state’s youth.
“Tata will return, industry will return, jobs will return and West Bengal will move forward again,” he said.
The Tata Motors Nano project was relocated to Gujarat after the company withdrew from Singur, a development that has since remained a recurring reference point in debates over industrial policy, investment climate and job creation in West Bengal.
Bhattacharya’s remarks underline the BJP’s attempt to foreground industry and investment as central political issues in the state. The party has repeatedly argued that attracting large-scale industrial projects is essential for creating jobs and boosting economic growth.