Left Front to Buddha: be more cautious with land acquisition

Bhattacharjee, who was also present, reportedly accepted that there was some confusion among the people regarding land acquisition and industrialisation. But the CM said his Government could not give up its agenda as only industrialisation could change the quality of life in Bengal.

“We have decided that the state Government will move cautiously regarding land acquisition,” said Bose. But RSP leader Kshiti Goswami warned: “If land acquisition goes on this way and with the present haste, it will harm the Left vote bank permanently.”

CPI(M) sources said resistance had developed among locals against land acquisition and the party was gearing up to convince them. “No land acquisition will take place without convincing the affected people,” said Bose.

Bose said caution always bears fruit. “We have seen it in Shalboni, Purulia and Salanpur in Burdwan,” Bose added. “Industrialisation is an advanced thought. A backlash is obvious if we fail to convince the locals in our feudal society. So we told the Government to be cautious,” he said.

CPI(M) sources said ‘go-slow’ strategy had also been necessitated by the general elections scheduled for next year. “We do not want to be hasty at this critical juncture. The panchayat results have opened our eyes. Local party committees are being told to organise camps wherever necessary to convince the people regarding the benefits of industry,” said a senior party leader.

IN THE PIPELINE

• The Government has already issued a notice for acquiring 500 acres for its ambitious shipyard project at Geokhali near Nandigram, where the Left front had been wiped out in the recent local body polls

• Acquisition is also needed for the Kukrahati-Rajarhat Expressway and for the proposed chemical hub in and around Haldia