Tata stigmatises Bengalis' political thoughts: Ashok

Kolkata, Oct 17 (UNI) Forward Bloc State Secretary Ashok Ghosh today came down heavily on Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata for his signed open letter, charging him with ''stigmatising'' the Bengalis' political thoughts.

Reacting to the letter, Mr Ghosh questioned Mr Tata's right to make such a statement and averred that Mr Tata should bridle his arrogance.

''Mr Tata is advising the people of Bengal like a spiritual head. He has no right to pass such a statement. There should be a limit to his arrogance,'' he thundered.

''Let Mr Tata remain an industrialist. He need not poke his nose into politics,'' the FB Secretary asserted.

Also reacting to the letter, PWD Minister Kshiti Goswami said it was unprecedented, never before had an industrialist made such a comment.

Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Partha Chatterjee said the letter was completely motivated and threatened of taking legal action.

In a signed open letter, published in a vernacular daily, Mr Tata said his decision to quit Singur was taken after 'much thoughts' and held the Trinamool Congress entirely responsible for the 'violent situation' that forced him to pull out the project 'with a deep sense of sorrow'.

''The people of West Bengal, especially the youths, have to spell out their hopes and aspirations. Do they support Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's efforts to build a progressive state with modern infrastructure and advanced industry or they want a poisonous political atmosphere that seeks to ruin the state with violence, terror and unnecessary opposition?'' he asked.

''The future of West Bengal is in the hands of the state's people. They have to decide whether they would be mute spectators to the development in other states which was to take place in West Bengal, or they will come forward vociferously in support of the progressive state government to ensure participation in the country's future development,'' he said.

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