No to national politics: Buddhadeb

Kolkata, May 14: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has ruled out considering a career in national politics and strongly vouched for foreign investment to create more job opportunities.

In an interview to a private news channel last night, Mr Bhattacharjee described himself as a ''practical Communist'' and said a balanced view towards rural and urban development was necessary for overall development of the country.

He made it clear that he would more zero in on promoting the region to advance its economy rather than taking up national issues.

Reiterating his pro-investment stand, Mr Bhattacharjee averred that the Communists were realists and not fools, and generally welcomed foreign investment, though he clarified that they were fully opposed to privatisation of Navaratnas, considered to be the backbone of economy.

''We generally welcome foreign investment necessary for creating job opportunities for millions of talented people, churned out of various educational institutions in the country. We accept the need for modern market mechanism for agricultural products. But we are opposing privatisation of Navratnas, the backbone of economy, '' He asserted.

''We have a definite policy making process. We are a living party. We are open to any debate for the well-being of the people of the country, '' he iterated.

Stressing that a harmonious industry-labour relationship was key to the image of the state, he said the labour force would have to realise that quality of production needed a rise for growth of industries.

''Investments cannot only create job opportunities for the people, but also good image for the state, '' he opined.

The Chief Minister underscored the need for protecting the traditional industries and opening the closed industries in the state for the overall growth of the economy.

Mr Bhattacharjee said he was making a ''conscious attempt'' to reach out to capital to improve the quality of life of all strata of people.

UNI