'Industrialisation for betterment of rural people'
Facing opposition protests over farmland acquisition for new industries, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Tuesday said a shift from agriculture to industrialisation was for the betterment of rural people.
By PTI |
KOLKATA: Facing opposition protests over farmland acquisition for new industries, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Tuesday said a shift from agriculture to industrialisation was for the betterment of rural people.
In an obvious reference to the Nandigram fiasco, he said, "some people are getting us wrong, but we will certainly be able to convince them that setting up industries is for their betterment," Bhattacharjee said at a government function here to observe 'May Day'.
He said too many people were involved in agriculture in the state while income from agriculture was steadily going down. People, therefore, should be convinced that the only way to move forward in the direction of development and prosperity was to set up more industries, he added.
"However, while we seek investment, we also want the rights of workers to be respected," Bhattacharjee said, adding that the Left government believed in the rule of labourers and farmers, who are the backbone of Left parties, in West Bengal.
He said even in SEZs, Trade Union Disputes Act must remain applicable and workers should be able to exercise their basic rights.
"We don't want slaves. We have asked the Centre not to take anti-labour stance in case of SEZs," the chief minister said.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
