Kolkata, Mar 24 (ANI): Launch of Tata’’s Nano from Gujarat sparked protests in West Bengal where a group of intellectuals staged a demonstration citing it as a painful day in the history of the state.

The protests were against the launch of Nano from Sanand where the new plant has been set up, after Tata Motors was forced to move the plant from its original site in Singur following violent protests from tribals over land disputes.

The intellectuals saw it as a loss to their state as the Nano plant would have established West Bengal as an industrial hub and brought in employment opportunities in abundance for the people in the state.

“This date is a very painful date. We are protesting for that,” said Fayaz Ahmed Khan, a protester.

Tata Motors launched the much-awaited Nano, slated to be the world’’s cheapest car at less than 2,000 dollars, on Monday.

The formal launch comes 15 months after the tiny, snub-nosed car debuted at a glittering world auto show in Delhi. (ANI)