Opposition anti-industry and anti-negotiations: Bhattacharjee

Kolkata, Jan 7 (UNI) West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said the opposition in the state had an anti- industry mindset and asked them to discuss ''anything under the sun'' to find a solution to the current problems.

Addressing a gathering at the Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta in Joka, Mr Bhattacharjee said, ''We have no future without industrialisation. Opposition to industry is unnecessary. It seems that the opposition is not interested in industrialisation.'' ''I am willing to discuss anything with them...anything under the sun ranging from agriculture, industry to conversion of land,'' he said.

He made it clear that agricultural land had to be touched if industrial revolution was to be brought in West Bengal. ''At present 78 per cent of the land is under agriculture. But we have to look into the matters of land fragmentation also. Agriculture alone will not solve the problems in the state. There are so many young educated who need jobs and these cannot come without industry,'' he added.

However, care was taken so that the least possible agro-land was used for industrial purpose.

Industrialisation was must in order to compete with other countries but it did not mean sacrificing agri-cultural land, he added.

''West Bengal is in a state of transition from being only an agricultural state to an industrial state. There will be difference in ideas and the contradictions need to be faced boldly and solved through negotiations,'' the Chief Minister said.

Mr Bhattacharjee further stated that sticking with the Singur project had sent right signals to the industrial world. There was a Rs 10,000 crore steel project at Salboni, another SEZ in Siliguri to be developed by Videocon, IOC chemical hub in Haldia, besides the Kulpi port-cum-SEZ of Salim Group.

West Bengal has 17 proposed SEZs marked in different parts of the state.

UNI