With the ruling Trinamool Congress receiving flak from all quarters for facilitating the flight of capital from Bengal, CM Mamata Banerjee has decided to rely on Reliance Industries captain Mukesh Ambani to bear what TMC calls flag for the much-needed industrial revival in the State which saw a mass exodus of industries — not only on account of Banerjee’s land policy that saw Tata Motors’ exit post Singur movement but also due to alleged political hooliganism of TMC goons.
The Chief Minister on Tuesday landed at Ambani’s doors with a request of investment in her State and of course invited him to the Bengal Global Business Summit scheduled to be held in the month of January.
The CM who has been organising the yearly business jamboree to attract investment said moments after meeting the elder Ambani brother in Mumbai, “I met him to personally invite him to the BGBS — locally christened Vishwa Bangla Sanmelan,” adding the industrialist had promised to attend it.
The CM who held a one-and-an-half-hour parley with Ambani called the meeting “fruitful” hoping “they will invest more in Bengal.” The State had seen a steady flight of capital in the post Singur-Nandigram era that saw violent land movement led by the CM — against the then left Front Govt — and had still not budged from her declared “no-acquisition” policy.
After her yearly botched attempts to attract investment in the State, Banerjee was on a two-day trip to India’s commercial capital. She was likely to meet other industrialists also to make the BGBS a grand success, State Industries Department said. Banerjee is also likely to address the Young President’s Organisation a global organisation of entrepreneurs.
Meanwhile, the Opposition let out a skeptic view of Banerjee’s meeting with the industry captains. A senior BJP leader said “the CM’s initiative is praiseworthy but she should remember the footprint she has left behind by driving away the likes of Tatas from the State before approaching the other industrialists.”
A leader from the Congress said Banerjee had placed herself in a “deadlock of policies” on land acquisition. “land is a prerequisite for investment and till she does not make arrangements for land no industry will come.”
A left leader said Banerjee should reign in her “goonda brigade” that she had let loose to loot votes during elections and loot investors during normal time that has led to a steady flight of capital from the State.”
However, senior State Minister Partho Chatterjee said “Bengal is one of the leading States in terms of investment which will be proved by the participation expected during the BGBS.”