Roll back on industrialisation is betraying the youth: Buddha

He is the man in the hottest seat right now. The West Bengal Chief Minister’s job is one of the most important in the country. This job will decide the future of industrialisation in India, the right balance between industry and agriculture. CNN-IBN National Affairs Editor Diptosh Majumdar speaks to the man who is at the centre of turbulence in West Bengal, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

Diptosh Majumdar: Nandigram, Singur, then a reported incident close to Burnpur where IISCO is carrying out an expansion program. Is there a very dangerous trend in all this?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: This is a trend that has recently developed in the state but I think it is not the whole picture. Nandigram, Singur and the IISCO project do not fall under the same category because they are separate issues. At the same time, I would like to inform you that there are many proposals with the government, which we are discussing with the concerned parties or companies. At this moment, we are implementing some projects like three big steel projects. One in Pashcim (West) Midnapore, another in Burdwan and another in Purulia district. We are now going to set up SEZ for Videocon.

Diptosh Majumdar: But the obvious question arising is why is it being experienced only in West Bengal? There is agitation in other parts of the country but not in the same manner as West Bengal.

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: It is unfortunate so far as Bengal is concerned. If you look at other states like Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, the ruling parties and opposition parties have different ideology but when the question of an important project comes up, there is complete consensus.

Diptosh Majumdar: Is it also that you have too many rehabilitation and compensation packages?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: It is but natural, we cannot just dictate to the companies.

Diptosh Majumdar: But do you see a ray of hope with the new proposals that are coming with better compensation packages?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: Yes. From the experience, we are changing our policies. The problem I was mentioning was that when we have industrialisation, we have to touch a portion of agricultural land. We are trying our best to avoid fertile land. But when we go for acquisition of land, we have to have a rehabilitation package for the land losers. In some cases, Jindal has come up with a very good proposal. They will give jobs to all land losers and their families. But the number is only 790 so it is easier for them and particularly for a steel company. But in case of Singur, there are 12,000 families. How can they give jobs to 12,000 families?

Diptosh Majumdar: There is a larger question which is the issue of education. You have said yourself that an agriculturist’s son doesn’t want to be an agriculturist anymore. But in the past 30 years, have you given him that platform, education that he needs to think of alternative employment?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: In Nandigram, the specific problem was that we wanted to set up a specific chemical hub. It was an important project and it was decided by the Government of India. Eight states took part in the competition. We made our presentation in Delhi before the Chemicals and Fertilizer Ministry. Four states were shortlisted with West Bengal topping the list. They said four chemical hubs were going to be set up in the country and the first would be in West Bengal. What we thought was that Haldia was a fisherman’s village 30 years ago. Now it is flourishing with investments coming in almost every month. But unfortunately, there is the Haldi river flowing there and on the other side is Nandigram, a poor village with poor agriculture. So we thought we will construct a bridge with the chemical hub and Nandigram will be another Haldia. Before we could lead the masses on how it was going to change their lives, the Opposition successfully mislead them. That was our mistake.

Diptosh Majumdar: In, Panskura, which is very close to Nandigram, you lost the municipal election, which the Mahajot, the combination of BJP, Congress and the Trinamool Congress won, is that a worrying sign for your party?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: No we have analysed the election results. It is not the fallout of Nandigram. If you see a panchayat election near Nandigram, we won the election.

Diptosh Majumdar: So you are saying it is a localised problem, not to be taken too seriously.

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: The point is, it is not the fallout of Nandigram because we won the panchayat elections just near Nandigram. In Singur, we won two panchayat elections, near the project area. Therefore, it is not the fallout of Nandigram.

Diptosh Majumdar: But there are a lot of party workers who are still not being able to go back to Nandigram. In the long run, wouldn’t some of them say Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s policies are a risky business?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: No. The problem started in January and on March 14 was the unfortunate incident of police firing that further complicated things. But now things have changed.

Diptosh Majumdar: But your party has a huge infrastructure and has been dependent on certain old-worldy values which was related to land ownership. You are changing all that and maybe too fast for some people to digest. So will your party be able to keep pace with Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s vision?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: Yes.

Diptosh Majumdar: Are you talking to your party along those lines?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: We are discussing these issues in the party and debating on them with partners and Opposition, too. This is the transitional stage. From agriculture, we are trying to move to industrialisation but not ignoring agriculture.

Diptosh Majumdar: That means you have decided on industry and you will go about it and it is an irreversible trend.

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: Exactly. I cannot rollback and betray the young generation who are waiting for jobs. It is the verdict of the election.

Diptosh Majumdar: You believe the eight projects that have come in are part of the one-lakh acre dream that you have of acquisition of land?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: Yes. I have told you that four steel plants are coming up simultaneously. There are two electronics SEZ of Videocon. I am going to North Bengal day after tomorrow to open the Videocon SEZ. Some Chinese companies will set up industries to make machines for steel industries. Investment is coming almost every month and that is the real picture in the state. There may be some setbacks in Nandigram. We have to find some other place but I cannot miss the chemical hub. There is some misunderstanding in Singur.

Diptosh Majumdar: How are you going to deal with, and I am not saying this but your party does, a problem called Mamata Banarjee?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: I don’t bother about any individual. I have to understand the problem of people who are losing their land. If you look at this problem from the macro level it is no problem. We have 1 crore 35 lakh acres of land—we will need only 1 lakh acre. At the macro level it is nothing, but at the micro level if you go to Singur a good number of people have lost their land. This problem we have to seriously deal with; we have to come out with a good rehabilitation package. We have to train these boys, of land-losers families.

Diptosh Majumdar: Do you credit Mamata Banarjee of having spearheaded the agitation or do you think she is just taking advantage of a situation that has arisen?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: What is the logic behind this movement? She always says I am for industrialisation, I am for industries but why are they opposing IISCO, why are they opposing Singur?

Diptosh Majumdar: But she is not coming to the negotiating table at all; you are not able being able to carry her with you. In the future that might prove to be a problem because every time there is a possibility of inciting an agitation she will do that.

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: I am asking her, requesting her again and again you please discuss with the government. In a parliamentary democracy you just cannot say I will not talk to the government.

Diptosh Majumdar: That means you are saying it is impossible to do politics with her?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: No, I am not saying that but I think good sense will finally prevail and she should understand that in a democracy one must talk.

Diptosh Majumdar: Jyoti Basu is playing a very nice role—some would say—and some would say it is an interventionist role. But it is your vision, are you happy with the role he is playing?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: Yes, of course.

Diptosh Majumdar: I will repeat the question again. It is your vision? It is not interventionist in any way?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: Of course not.

Diptosh Majumdar: He has his own style of politics and you have your own style of politics—it doesn’t clash?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: Of course not. When we received the news that she (Mamata) is willing to talk to Jyoti babu I at once told him you should talk to her. Jyoti babu is Jyoti babu—she wanted to talk to him, and I at once agreed.

Diptosh Majumdar: This is the 30th year of Left Front rule in West Bengal. Jyoti babu has probably ruled 24 and half years of those; you have ruled six and half. Don’t you feel sometimes like a son feels in the presence of a successful father? Too stifled, too much of comparison with a very successful father? Are the comparisons a problem at times?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: No, not all. It is a continuation of the same policy. You should understand that Jyoti babu first formulated this policy.

Diptosh Majumdar: But here I would like to ask a very important question. You have gone ahead with tremendous speed; you have visualised what needs to be done for your state but do you think your party began too late. You are saying it is continuation of policy but do you sometimes blame your predecessors for not starting it early enough?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: No. You have to understand the situation prevailing at that time. Until 1992, when there was license raj, we could not do anything. Now, I can tell you, there is a qualitative change in the situation. The major corporate houses in the country and abroad really feel that West Bengal is a safe place and an ideal place.

Diptosh Majumdar: Are you finding Left Front partners impediments in implementation of your vision?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: It is but natural. I tell you when we fought for land reform; we fought for the farmers it was basically an anti-feudal movement—it was basically anti-feudal position of the Left. But when you are going for industries it means private capital; it is capitalism. Traditionally, Left parties and some Left intellectuals they just cannot accept this position. We don’t have a socialistic pattern of development; we have to move in this (direction).

Diptosh Majumdar: Some people have often wondered why from the beginning you gave away some important ministries like Agriculture and Cooperative. Some people say the cooperative movement has floundered in West Bengal and it is essentially because the Forward Bloc knew nothing about cooperatives—I am not saying that but they didn’t try hard enough at all. Probably a Communist government would have done far better if they had the cooperative (ministry) with them, as it happened in China.

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: After all it’s a coalition government, I should not criticise our partners.

Diptosh Majumdar: You are a leading Left individual in your own right. Has it hurt you that some of the more radical Left have moved away from the party after Nandigram? Has it hurt you?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: No, I will tell you. It was but natural, when this firing took place at Nandigram on March 14 it was but the natural reaction of any intellectual or even a common right thinking man. Nobody can accept the police firing. But some intellectuals were confused and disturbed. I had a discussion with almost all intellectuals—one to one, and I think majority of them were sincerely confused. I think they will gradually change their mind.

Diptosh Majumdar: But is the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee rate of growth causing confusion in the party hierarchy in Delhi also? For example, Prabhat Patnaik and people like that who are heading state planning boards in Kerala—are suggesting no loan should be taken from any financial institutions especially World Bank. You are propagating a completely different view. Are you not at loggerheads with this kind of idea?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: I have read Prabhat Patnaik’s statements and I don’t agree with what he has said.

Diptosh Majumdar: Prabhat Patnaik is supposedly the economist of your party.

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: That is correct. But I have serious differences with him over what he is writing now days about industrialisation.

Diptosh Majumdar: Do you have differences with the entire group—Prabhat Patnaik, Jayati Ghosh, Utsa Patnaik?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: I don’t want to mention their names. But there is a group of people with same ideas. They are writing on many issues—developments in India, China. I generally do not accept their views. I feel they are a bit academic. They don’t understand the real situation. What you mentioned about foreign loans from World Bank, in our last party congress in Delhi, it was decided we can take loans from any organisation like World Bank, ADB, Japanese Bank of International Cooperation and others without any conditions.

They should not impose any terms and conditions—that is the only issue. They should not impose any conditions. And so far as our state is concerned, we have taken loans from World Bank, ADB, DFID, Japanese Bank of International Cooperation without any conditions. We are taking these loans from stand-alone basis. And on this issue if Prabhat Patnaik says no this is not correct, I can tell him that the party congress decided it and we are following that.

Diptosh Majumdar: You are not afraid of Prakash Karat, Sitaram Yechury and senior politburo members taking their side and not your side.

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: The politburo is solidly behind our government.

Diptosh Majumdar: You are saying that there will be no roll back come what may. The industrialisation process in West Bengal has been given a fresh push and that push will get further accelerated in due course.

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: I repeat I cannot just roll back. But I would not use the word come what may. After Nandigram we have to move cautiously. We have to take the people into confidence.

Diptosh Majumdar: Are we then looking at a changed Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee? Are you slightly saddened by what has happened?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: Yes. You have to understand the problem and if you feel that it is genuine demands of the people, they protested for genuine reason, then you have to move very carefully. That is a lesson that I have learnt from Nandigram incident.

We must not roll back. We have to move ahead with our industrialisation policy. But we have to be very conscious and move very cautiously.

Diptosh Majumdar: Thank you, Mr Bhattacharjee.

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