Mumbai : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday met top industrialists, including RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani and Tata Consultancy Services chairman N Chandrasekaran, here and said the state was more investment friendly now with a “good work culture”.
The Chief Minister spoke to reporters after an hour-long closed door meeting with about 40 top industry leaders.
“Earlier, because of strikes, it was a minus point from the industry point of view,” she said, adding that after Trinamool Congress came to power, the number of manhours lost due to strikes has declined.
“The work culture is very good nowadays and we don’t support any strike or a bandh. We believe that there should be a good relationship between industrialists and workers,” Mamata said.
Her government had framed a detailed land use policy and created a 10,000 acre land-bank for industrial purposes apart from creating `an employment bank’, she said.
On the Singur land controversy, Mamata refused to comment saying it is a sub-judice matter, but added that ultimate solution will make both the industry as well as the farmers happy.
“Whatever I’ve done for Singur, I’m proud to do. I’m in favour of industry and I am in favour of agriculture too. Don’t worry, industry will also smile and agriculture will also smile,” she said, reminding the audience that Chandrasekaran was present in the meet, while Shapoorji Pallonji, the largest shareholder in Tata Sons, had agreed to create a project of 20,000 houses.
It may be noted that Trinamool Congress opposition to land acquisition in Singur had forced Tata group move its small car (Nano) project out of West Bengal to Gujarat.