CPI(M) rakes up industrialisation issue to corner Mamata Banerjee

KOLKATA: In a bid to corner West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the issue of industrialisation in the state, CPI(M) Politburo member Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today raked up the issue of the abandoned car factory at Singur and blamed Trinamool Congress for halting the process.

"What wrong did we do in Singur? We wanted a factory to come up in Singur, but they didn't want a factory there and protested. Now it is a deserted place. What will happen to lakhs of youths across the state? We had understood that only agricultural development will not work. We need industries too," Bhattacharjee, the former Chief Minister, said.

The car plant at Singur was abandoned by Tata Motors in 2008 following protests by Trinamool Congress over forcible land acquisition by the then Left Front regime.

"During our time, Infosys and WIPRO wanted to set up their units here. We had provided them land at a subsidised rate for better future of our youth. But now, nobody is coming because of this Trinamool regime," CPI(M) leader Gautam Deb said.

Bhattacharjee today lashed out at the TMC regime alleging goons and extortionists were calling the shots in the Trinamool Congress government.

"During our rule too crimes took place, but we had taken action against the culprits. When the Tapasi Malik incident happened, we readily agreed for a CBI inquiry. But when ever any such incident takes place during this regime, it tries to either buy out the victim's family or threat them with dire consequences," Bhattacharjee said.