CPI(M) mocks Mamata Banerjee's move to attract investment in Bengal

KOLKATA: Accusing the Centre of presenting "wrong facts and figures" about development in West Bengal in a bid to please Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, CPI(M) today said it will start a rally from tomorrow to present the "real picture" of industrialisation in the state.

Alleging that it was Chief Minister Mamata Banerjeee, the then leader of opposition, who with BJP's support had not allowed industries to come up in the state, CPI(M) Politbureau member Mohammed Salim said the rally, beginning from Singur, will highlight how TMC has "destroyed prospects of industry under its rule".

"The facts and figures which the Union Finance Minister and other Union Ministers placed, are wrong. They have tried to please Mamata Banerjee. Those who are in power today in the state and at the Centre had played a vital role in ensuring that industries don't come up in Bengal during 2006-07.

"In Singur, protests by the TMC and the then opposition leader Mamata Banerjee supported by the BJP, ensured that the Tatas move out to other state," Salim said.

The rally will be led by former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who Salim said was one of the main proponents for setting up of Tata car factory in Singur.

Taking a dig at the CM's recent statement of providing harassment-free and peaceful atmosphere to industrialists, the CPI(M) leader said Banerjee "who had forced the Tatas out of Bengal, was now trying to attract investment".

"Tomorrow we will start our jatha (rally) from Singur to Salbani. We will reach out to the masses about the real picture of industrialisation in the state and how it has gone haywire under the TMC rule. We will tell them how TMC has destroyed the prospects of industry in the state," Salim added.