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Journalism of Courage
The gathering on Monday of diplomats and the elite from among West Bengal industrialists at a function organised by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has raised quite a concern in the ruling Left Front. The state government has so far been painting the Union minister as anti-industry and the rare occasion has threatened to take the steam out of the Marxists anti-Mamata campaign. When asked to comment on Tuesday,state Industry Ministry Nirupam Sen said,Dont ask me to comment about the gathering.
CPM sources said in an informal meeting of the top brass on Tuesday a daily feature at Alimuddin Street newspaper reports on Mamatas gathering were discussed in presence of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
Why do you ask such irrelevant questions to a political leader, Sen told The Indian Express when asked whether he could read any message from the gathering. Who invited whom,who went there,how could I know. All these are her personal matters, he added.
Mohd Salim,a Central Committee member of the party,however,said Mamatas efforts for an image makeover would not succeed because she was still opposing land acquisition. She is applying cosmetics for her image makeover,but the fact remains that she is opposing land for industry. Her position not only affected Bengal,but the country.
Why we would have to comment on everything? She is the Railway Minister,this is her prerogative to invite people, said Shyamal Chakraborty,CITU state president and CPM Rajya Sabha member.
Sanjay Budhiya,a leading businessman who attended the Mondays gathering,said people should not see politics behind this programme because it was a social get-together.
Sishir Bajoria,a Left-backed businessman,said,She
is the Railway Minister. Why always do you see her as
the chief minister-in-waiting? Though I was not invited,what is wrong if businessmen respond to her invitation? said Bajoria.
