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| Nano saga: twists and turns so far |
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The agreement between the West Bengal government and the Trinamool Congress-backed agitating farmers Sunday night has removed the roadbloack before Tata Motors' project to produce the world's cheapest car Nano. Here's the timeline of the Nano saga:
May 18, 2006: Tata group chairman Ratan Tata announces small car project at Singur, 40 km from Kolkata, on the day when Buddhadeb Bhattacharya was sworn in the state's chief minister.
May 25: Angry demonstrations by farmers over "forcible" acquisition of land for the Tata car project.
May 26: Former West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu criticises Bhattacharya for mishandling issues pertaining to the acquisition of land for Tata project.
July 18: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee sows paddy near Tata factory site to protest "forcible" acquisition of land.
Aug 25: Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) warns that Singur developments may force industry to shift projects to other states.
Sep 25: Banerjee breaks down, says police assaulted her in Singur and shows bruises and tattered clothes to media.
Oct 2: Bhattacharya calls for all-party meeting on Singur.
Oct 9: West Bengal crippled by 12-hour shut-down called by Trinamool Congress.
Oct 27: Save Narmada activist Medha Patkar holds meeting near Tata Motors factory over "forcible" land acquisition.
Dec 2: Singur on boil as hundreds of farmers join protests, even as Patkar is arrested by state police.
Dec 3: Protests intensify; Banerjee begins indefinite hunger strike.
Dec 7: Patkar meets then president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam over Singur.
Dec 15: Former prime minister V.P. Singh meets Banerjee, asks her to end hunger strike.
Dec 21: Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi asks Banerjee to withdraw fast that enters 18th day.
Dec 26: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sends Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi as emissary to Banerjee.
Dec 27: Ratan Tata says no pulling out of Singur.
Dec 28: Banerjee breaks 25-day fast.
Jan 4, 2007: Tatas select first batch of trainees for Singur project.
Jan 10: Singur-bound Patkar detained by police in Kolkata.
Jan 11: Patkar released, but says she will return to Singur.
Jan 21: Tatas start work at Singur, women torch factory fencing.
Feb 4: Fresh violence at Singur, ahead of Trinamool Rally.
Feb 6: Ratan Tata says clear evidence of rival hand in Singur.
Feb 14: Kolkata court says prohibitory orders in Singur is misuse of power.
Feb 15: Bhattacharya holds first public rally at Singur, swears by Tata project.
Fen 23: Calcutta High Court slams state government over method adopted for Singur land acquisition.
March 9: Tatas and state government ink Singur land deal lease.
March 12: Farmer Haradhan Bag, who was unwilling to part with Singur land, commits suicide.
March 16: Mob attacks Tata Motors' factory fencing at Singur.
March 18: Explosion outside Tata Motors' factory damages fencing.
March 25: Five guards at project site injured during clash with protesters.
May 24: Peace talks between state government, Trinamool fail.
May 25: Singur simmers as another farmer, Prasanta Das, commits suicide.
June 4: Basu says car project does not need more than 600 acres; 997.11 acres were acquired for project and ancillary units.
June 14: State government rules out returning Singur project land to farmers.
July 2: Jobless Singur farmer commits suicide.
Sep 18: Tatas appoint first batch of 17 Singur youth after training.
Nov 12: Central Reserve Police Force deployed at Singur after fresh protests.
Dec 2: Trinamool Congress holds major rally to mark one-year of agitation.
Jan 10, 2008: World watches in awe as Tatas unveil name for small car, say Nano will cost Rs.100,000/$2,500, excluding taxes. Singur protesters burn Nano replica.
Jan 16: Tatas give jobs to 80 displaced farmers.
Jan 18: Calcutta High Court says Singur land acquisition legal.
Feb 15: Tatas announce Nano roll out by October.
May 13: Supreme Court refuses to block roll out of Nano from Singur.
May 21: Trinamool Congress wins majority in Singur self-governance institutions.
June 27: Singur protesters break Nano factory gate at Singur.
Aug 7: Banerjee says she is willing to talk with Tatas on Singur impasse.
Aug 18: Bhattacharya invites Banerjee for talks.
Aug 19: Banerjee says 400 acres must be returned to farmers.
Aug 20: Talks between state government, Trinamool Congress fail.
Aug 22: For the first time, Ratan Tata says Nano will move out of West Bengal if violence at Singur persists.
Aug 23: Indian industry begins rallying behind Tata Motors factory at Singur, says continuing protests will tarnish state's image.
Aug 23: Several states, including Haryana and Maharashtra, ask Tatas to relocate Nano factory to their territories.
Aug 24: Trinamool Congress begins indefinite stir at Singur.
Aug 26: Bhattacharya says acquired Singur land for Nano cannot be returned.
Aug 27: Several industrialists, including Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, back Tatas on Nano project.
Aug 29: Nano factory workers stay away from work.
Aug 31: Trinamool Congress delegation meets Governor Gandhi over Singur, who suggests mediator to resolve impasse.
Sep 2: Cricketer and West Bengal's sports icon Saurav Ganguly bats for Tatas.
Sep 3: Tatas suspend work at Singur, say alternative sites being examined.
Sep 3: Governor Gandhi plays mediator; state government, Trinamool Congress agree to meet him to end stalemate.
Sep 4: Ratan Tata says all possible steps being taken to roll out Nano as scheduled; Gandhi holds preliminary talks for reconciliation and says formal talks on Friday, Sep 5.
Sep 7: Governor Gandhi mediates talks between Bhattacharjee and Banerjee, agreement announced late night.
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