West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has claimed that it was the CPI(M) which drove out industrial giants from the state. Leftist leaders dubbed her claim a “bundles of lies”.
“I didn’t drive out Tatas from Singur, it was the CPI(M) which did it,” Banerjee told a gathering while celebrating the Vijaya Sammilani at Kawakali Maidan on Wednesday.
Reacting to the claim, CPI(M) state Secretary Md Salim called it a “bundles of lies” and said Banerjee should be awarded the “misthashree” prize.
Salim said it was Banerjee who spearheaded a violent movement along with BJP leaders and Maoists and destroyed the Nano factory at Singur in Hooghly district.
“It’s time for Buddhadeo babu to laugh and the people of Bengal to be more cautious while electing their representatives from Panchayat to Lok Sabha,” Salim said.
Buddhadeb Bhattacharya was then the Chief Minister of the Left Front government, which lost the elections in 2011 to the Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress.
Addressing the Bijaya Sammilani, where prominent personalities and Durga Puja committees of the eight districts of North Bengal were invited, Banerjee claimed that she did not drive the Tatas out of West Bengal but it was the CPI(M).
“They acquired land forcibly, I returned it to unwilling owners,” Banerjee maintained.
“Why are the industries set up by forcefully acquiring the land from the people? We have set up so many industries and we did not take the land by force. I want all the industrial houses to come in West Bengal and set up business and create employment opportunities,” said the TMC supremo.
Banerjee said she wants to create job opportunities for the youth of Bengal by building factories and hotels, and make the state a tourist destination of the world.
“There is no shortage of land. Why take land by force? We have done so many projects. We have not taken land by force anywhere. As many industrialists as we have here, everyone should invest in Bengal. Create employment in Bengal.”
CPI(M) Central Committee member Sujan Chakraborty said Banerjee was trying to hoodwink the people after so many ruling party leaders have been arrested and jailed for corruption.
