Kolkata’s ‘Maharaja’ and former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has come out openly in support of Bhattacharjee.
Kolkata’s ‘Maharaja’ lauds West Bengal chief minister’s industrialisation drive, tells people to hit the streets in support
KOLKATA: Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee might be having a tough time rejuvenating industry in the state following jagged opposition from within and outside the Left Front, but the West Bengal chief minister’s initiatives have received strong support from an unexpected corner. Kolkata’s ‘Maharaja’ and former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has come out openly in support of Bhattacharjee.
In a strongly-worded article published in Left-leaning vernacular daily Aajkal on Tuesday, Ganguly not only complemented Bhattacharjee for his industry rejuvenation drive but also called upon the people of the state to hit the streets in support of the chief minister’s initiatives.
At the same time, Ganguly committed to take the initiative and hold talks with overseas investors and convince them to invest in West Bengal. “I have spoken to foreign investors following a call from the chief minister. I will do the same again and again….And this I will do not as the state’s brand ambassador, but as an ordinary citizen of India,” he wrote.
Although Ganguly is a known Bhattacharjee confidant, this is the first time that he has written such an article openly supporting the chief minister. Government sources said Ganguly readily agreed to write the article following requests from a couple of top CPI(M) leaders and senior officials in the chief minister’s secretariat.
Echoing Bhattacharjee’s earlier statements, Ganguly said it was a reality that no civilisation could move ahead without industrialisation. “In that case, why should we ignore this ground reality?” he said.
On hitting the streets, Ganguly said if it was necessary he would personally hit the streets. “I feel that the entire state should do so in support of the chief minister if need be. There is no reason to hesitate in giving open support to such initiatives,” he said.
Ganguly also launched an attack on critics raking up the alleged agriculture-industry tussle or voicing the theory that Singur-Nandigram-Dinhata tensions will be a deterrent to further industrial development.
“I do not think that Singur-Nandigram-Dinhata tensions will be deterring factors. These are all temporary phenomena. These cannot stop the recent wave of industrial development,” Ganguly said.
On the issue of “agriculture versus industry”, he said these were non-issues since in agriculture West Bengal was already in the first position and the state would soon become number one on the industrial front as well. “We all full faith in Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and we are looking up to him,” Ganguly concluded.
r_sumanta@dnaindia.net
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