Kolkata, October 17
Industrialist Ratan Tata today caused a furore, both in political as well as business circles, by writing an “open letter” on the Singur issue in which he has vehemently criticised Mamata Banerjee and “other vested interests”, holding them responsible for the Tatas’ moving out of Singur with their Nano car project.
Tata’s “open letter to the citizen of West Bengal” that was published today in all the leading newspapers in Kolkata was virtually an official acknowledgement of “the investor-friendly policies of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s government.”
In his letter, Tata has asked the citizens of West Bengal, particularly the youngsters, to, “Explain their views regarding the West Bengal they would like to see in the future. Would they like to support the present government of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to build a prosperous state? Or would they like to see the state consumed by a destructive political environment and lawlessness?”
Interestingly, the CPM seemed visibly embarrassed that an industrialist like Tata would be so openly certifying them. The CPM secretariat at a meeting today discussed about the letter with an expression of appreciation, but the leaders did not come out in the public by making any statement. Senior central committee leader Benoy Konar said Tata had just expressed what he had felt and the CPM had nothing to do with it. Veteran leader Shymal Chakraborty also made the same observations.
On the other hand, Mamata Banerjee said she did not expect anything better from Ratan Tata who had not hesitated to set up an industry on the forcibly acquired lands gifted to him free of cost by the Chief Minister. According to her the letter is just “a political propaganda for Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who had of late turned out to be businessmen-friendly.”
The leader of the opposition Partha Chatterjee asked Ratan Tata to join the Alimuddin Street party office and take over as the party secretary by dislodging Biman Bose. “It’s a shame that an industrialist could so savagely campaign for a worthless chief minister,” he alleged.
However, leaders of the CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc thanked Ratan Tata for speaking out so openly against the opposition parties’ obstructive agitation at Singur. But they were equally critical of Ratan Tata’s hurried decision to move out of Singur.
Several chambers of commerce and business houses in Kolkata appreciated Tata for writing such a letter and publishing it in the newspapers. They wanted the political parties and people to give serious thought to Tata’s views and accordingly move forward for building a better future.
