Industrialisation only option for development: Swraj Paul

Singur, Apr 8 (UNI) Caparo Group founder Lord Swraj Paul today advocated that West Bengal must follow China's policy in utilising the abundant human resources and follow the path of rapid industrialisation to bring about development.

Talking to mediapersons here after visiting the Tata Motors' small car project site, along with Assembly Speaker H A Halim, Lord Paul said, ''The Nano is a very ambitious project and I am upbeat about its success. The entire world is curious about this project. I am very satisfied with the progress of the work at Singur.'' On the protests and agitations against the project, he said it was all ''part of politics''.

''The Opposition's job is to oppose and the government's responsibility is to ensure the smooth progress of the development work.

I am here to strengthen relations between Britain and West Bengal.

The Tata project will transform the economy of the region.'' He claimed that industrialisation in the area would provide employment to hundreds of local people and the benefits would be reaped by the future generations.

On the alleged suicides being committed by farmers whose lands were taken away for the project, he said, ''It is the responsibility of both the government and the Opposition to ensure that such tragic incidents do not recur.'' He also inaugurated an ancillary unit at the project site. The Caparo Group would invest Rs 100 crore in the ancillary industries to supply ten per cent of the components of the Nano project.

Meanwhile, about a hundred farmers, led by local Trinamool MLA Rabindranath Bhattacharya, staged demonstrations and raised black flags in protest against his visit.

However, police cordoned off the entire area and prevented the agitators from getting near the convoy.

Lord Paul is scheduled to hold a meeting with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at Kolkata later this evening.

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