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Journalism of Courage
First it was the Mitrokhin archives which made the ruling Left Front in West Bengal see red. Then came excerpts from a book on corruption in the administration and CPM by Nazrul Islam, an IG of Police, who named a minister for misusing his official car. And now it’s Subhash Chakraborty, Sports and Transport Minister, who has slammed CM Buddhadeb Bhattachajee’s latest FDI project, the Salem township proposal, saying Kolkata will be ‘‘ruined’’ if it comes through.
In a signed article in Prasad, a Bengali Puja publication once very popular with the middle-class, Chakraborty writes: ‘‘A project like Salem will spell doom for Kolkata.’’
The timing of the article could not have been worse. Indonesian businessman Beni Santoso of the Salem group is expected to land in Kolkata on Thursday to sign the deal with the government.
‘‘Industry does not come through lecture only. Neither does it come through mere publicity. The combination of several conducive factors and infrastructural component allow industry to grow in a particular area,’’ Chakraborty continues. ‘‘A big township like Rajarhat has come up close to Salt Lake. Salt Lake township is also complete now. On top of it, if anyone proposes another township, I can never extend my support to that… If this proposed township takes shape, Kolkata will be ruined. It should never come at the cost of Kolkata.’’ ‘‘If anyone does this, it will not only be unfair, but in future it will prove to be an foolish act.’’
According to Chakraborty, there are many other sites in Bengal where such township projects can be taken up, such as the 700-800 km stretch between North and South Bengal. The article ends with a warning note: ‘‘No one will be able to set up an industry close to Kolkata forcefully.’’
Security tightens as Mamata threatens stir
Kolkata: The State Government is making unprecedented security arrangements for the visit of Beni Santoso, chief of Indonesia’s Salem Group, on Thursday even as Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has threatened road blockades to stop him from entering the city. Santoso is arriving for talks with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and senior ministers and officials.
