In Trinamool stronghold, CM announces his determination to industrialise Bengal

Black flags and “Killer CM” placards failed to deter Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who was in his combative mood during his visit to East Midnapore district, a Trinamool Congress stronghold, on Sunday.

Defying pressures that he had been facing from the Opposition camp after the CPM’s consistent election drubbing, Bhattacharjee today hit back at the Trinamool for its “obstructionist role”, and said he would continue with his plan to industrialise Bengal.

“What do they (Trinamool) think of themselves? By winning a few elections, they can do anything here? We cannot let them continue spreading chaos. They are stalling all our development initiatives,” Bhattacharjee told his party workers at a rally in Tamluk.

He said despite such an environment being created by the Opposition, his government will go ahead with industrialisation, including the setting up of a petro-chemical hub in Nayachar.

“Today, I called them (local Trinamool leaders) for a meeting here, but they did not turn up. They don’t want dialogue or discussion. But all these will not stop me from going ahead with development works. I will do my work,” Bhattacharjee said.

Speaking about the Nayachar petro-hub, the chief minister said that it would be another Haldia. “What was Haldia before industrialisation? It was like Nandigram. But now thousands of people are employed there,” said Bhattacharjee. Ironically, even as the chief minister made a case for the industrialisation in the state, trade unions affiliated to both the Trinamool Congress and the CPM clashed in Haldia, leaving 12 injured. While the Left-affiliated CITU had called a strike at the Petrochemical plant in Haldia, Trinamool workers tried to force their way in. In Tamluk, Bhattacharjee, meanwhile, continued hitting at the Trinamool and accused the party of stalling the works under the national Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. “They are not working themselves nor letting anyone work for the people,” he said.

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