Buddha talks industry at anniversary

The function was held at the Netaji Indoor Stadium and was well attended by leaders of other Front constituents and party cadres. Bhattacharjee used the podium to raise his industry agenda from an administrative drive to a political slogan. 8220;We want chemical industry and steel,8221; he said, in a clear reference to the steel plant being set up by the Jindals and the Government8217;s stalled plan for a chemical hub, including a chemical special economic zone SEZ at Nandigram.

When Bhattacharjee took over as chief minister for a second term last year, his wish was to attract big-ticket industrial investments to the state. But, after a string of agreements with South East Asian majors like Indonesia8217;s Salim and Indian powerhouses like the Tatas, Bhattacharjee is staring at a deadlock over the acquisition of farmland for industry.

While Left Front chairman Biman Bose presided over the event, former chief minister Jyoti Basu, who had allowed industry to slide during his tenure, said he was now ready for it. 8220;Surely the Government is doing good work. Why can8217;t the Opposition help?8221; he said.

However, CPIM8217;s critics in the Front would not let the occasion pass without a mild reminder that industry cannot grow at the cost of the people. Public Works Department Minister and RSP leader Kshiti Goswami, who has vehemently opposed acquisition of farmland, said, 8220;While working for development, we must ensure that no one needs to shed tears and that the ground does not shift from beneath our feet.8221;

Beginning of the end: Mamata

KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said the Left Front8217;s 30th year is the beginning of its end. She said this while addressing a rally to observe a Kolonko Mochan Divas at the Maidan, a couple of kilometres away from the Left Front8217;s rally venue.

Mamata gave an account of the various 8220;misdeeds8221; by the Left Front Government. 8220;It has siphoned off crores of rupees to party coffers. There were at least 30,000 political murders in the last 30 years, which is the highest in the country. The Government has been hobnobbing with terrorists. I can cite thousands of instances of scandals that the state government was involved in. All these things should be investigated by an impartial agency. If the truth comes out, the people in power now will all go to jail,8221; Mamata said.

8220;The villains who masterminded the genocide at Chhota Angaria and Nandigram have participated in victory celebrations. Buddhababu, you

should be ashamed of this,8221; Mamata said.