Last year, she drove the Tata Motors' Nano factory out from West Bengal. Three days ago, Trinamool Congress chief and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee turned down another Tata offer a donation of Rs 27,70,660 to her party from the Tata Sons Electoral Trust.
After the spectacular performance of Banerjee's party in the Lok Sabha polls (Trinamool won 19 out of 42 seats in Bengal, up from just one in the 2004 elections), the Tata Trust sent an emissary to her Delhi residence on Tuesday with a letter and a cheque.
The letter described the process adopted by the Tata Sons Trust in selecting the beneficiaries among various political parties. It mentioned that "based on the performance" of the Trinamool Congress, it had decided to donate Rs 27,70,660 to her party. The letter also said that similar donations had been given to other political parties.
"Very politely, I have returned the cheque to the Tatas. The election is over. What will I do with the money now?" a smiling Banerjee said at her office today.
"We will also reply to their letter in a few days. I have asked my party colleagues to draft the reply," Banerjee added.
Asked about the development, a Tata group spokesperson said the money was indeed offered to Banerjee by the Tata Electoral Trust. "However, please note that the Tatas do not distribute the money. The money is given to the Tata Electoral Trust. Based on the criteria laid down in its mandate, the trust offers the money to any party that meets these criteria," the spokesperson said.
Last year, Banerjee spearheaded a fierce agitation against the Tata Motors Nano factory at Singur near Kolkata on the ground that the state government was forcibly acquiring 1,000 acres of agricultural land and leasing it to the Tatas. Despite the state government's best efforts, Ratan Tata eventually decided to relocate the Nano factory in Gujarat.
Though the episode fuelled a big political controversy, Banerjee had the last laugh because even after the ruling CPI(M)'s high-pitched campaign against her, and accusing her of being "anti-industry", Banerjee won a record number of Lok Sabha seats, including the Hooghly constituency where Singur is located.
Banerjee was also amused by the Tatas' gesture. According to her: "This is the first time the Tatas have sent such a donation though my party has already contested more than one Lok Sabha elections."
Banerjee quit the Congress to form her own party in December 1997.
Even as the Tata Motors relocated its Nano factory in Gujarat, Banerjee -- now the Railway Minister -- claims she is neither anti-Tata nor anti-industry.
"They are welcome to build an automobile factory in Singur. But they have to set up the factory on 600 acres of land. The remaining 400 acres will have to be returned to those farmers who don't want to part with their land."
The Left Front government has so far refused to return the land to the farmers.
In the 1990s, the Tata group had established a special Trust to donate funds to major political parties. Private individuals and other corporate bodies contribute to this fund that is distributed in proportion to a party's strength in Parliament.
Banerjee also reiterated today that she is "basically opposed" to the proposed chemical hub at West Bengal's Nayachar on environmental grounds.
