Former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had planned a development path that combines global socialism with local capitalism, adapting to the limitations of running a state government.
Rejecting the Left’s push for nationalising industries in the ’60s, he argued strongly for capitalist industrialisation on August 8 at the 42nd anniversary of the CPM’s Bengali newspaper, Ganashakti.
“Some people say industrialisation is fine. But will that be a socialist mode? For them, I would like to say that industrialisation in West Bengal has to follow the capitalist course. I am aware of the sweat and tears that capital brings with it, but there is no way out. Where from shall we get the money? Our government doesn’t have funds,” he highlighted the big shift in the CPM’s views since the 80’s, when bourgeois was considered bad. He wants Left Front partners to recognise the changing times and adopt a practical approach to agriculture and industry.
“The Jindals have taken land from a total 137 families. They’ve no problems absorbing them when they are going to generate 18,000 jobs. But the same can’t be expected from the Tatas. We acquired land for their small-car factory in Singur from a total 12,000 families. Is it feasible to engage all of them? The Tatas, however, have introduced a training programme and will absorb some from the land-losers.”
The Chief Minister presented a list of new investments in areas like agro-industries, iron and steel, IT, and telecommunications, making it clear that these investments will follow a capitalist approach.
“Those opposed to industrialisation should rest for a while and talk to the young coming out of universities and colleges. They want jobs. We can’t make them feel let down.”
Accepting the changing times, the Chief Minister toned down his Leftist views. He said that the Left’s goal now is to give a human face to the market-driven path.
