IndustriaLisation needed in rural Bengal for overall development: CM

Egra(East Midnapore) Apr 26(UNI) Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said that with the help of the Left Front's understanding of the needs of the rural poor, his party is aiming at development of industries and greater connectivity in West Bengal.

Addressing a Panchayat election campaign meeting here this afternoon, Mr Bhattacharjee said the Front's understanding in fulfiling the needs of the rural poor has helped in setting up the country's most effective Panchayat system.

Mr Bhattacharjee further pointed out that along with agricultural development, the people in the rural areas also need development in industry.

''In spite of self-sufficiency in agriculture, the people know that 16,000 peasants have committed suicide and there is a tendency of diminishing returns in agriculture throughout the country,'' he said and added that the peasants here want more engineering colleges and industries in the rural areas besides continuing with their farming.

Coming down heavily on the AITC and Congress parties, he said, ''The two parties do not stand a chance in the state si8nce the rural people are no longer happy with farming.

''They want more industries, highways, hospitals and electricity,'' he said, but also lamented that the electorate are not clear about what they actually really want and this has led to all the confusion.

Criticizing the "Mohajot" (fusion) among the Congress AITC, SUCI and even the Naxalites against the CPI(M), the chief minister said that this fusion has no future and is not based on a strong principle.

''The Naxalites are alleging that we will be taking away rural lands belonging to the minority communities. But such communal propaganda is not cutting any ice,'' he maintained and said, ''We are in favor of unity of all caste and creed.

Talking about the present price hike of essential commodities in the country, Mr Bhattacharjee said that both the UPA and the NDA governments were responsible for the situation.

''This is the reason we are trying to build up a third alternative at the Centre,'' he said and remarked that our country need not be controlled by the US anymore.

Admitting that in some places, unity among the Left Front constituents was lacking, he said that he was still on hte path to achieving that goal.

Meanwhile, heavy security arrangement had been made in view of the meeting. The Chief Minister later left for Heria to attend another election meeting there.

Official sources said that he will be staying at Haldia Bhawan and go to Kanktia and Radhamoni tomorrow to address a meeting there.

However, sources said that he does not have any plans to go to Nandigram, where AITC supremo Mamata Banerjee recently claimed dominance.

UNI XC LL RN1936