Buddha cautions leaders of ties with promoters

Buddha cautions leaders of ties with promoters

30 December 2011

statesman news service
DURGAPUR, 30 DEC: The former chief minister and CPI-M Politburo member, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee (in sns photo), today take a dig at a section of his party leaders for the party's debacle in Burdwan district, which was once considered as a Red citadel. "Some leaders are operating as contractors and lack initiative to take up the workers’ issues. This can't be allowed. They either have to change or face the consequences," he said addressing the open session of the party’s 22nd Burdwan district conference here this afternoon.
Mr Bhattacharjee's sharp and open criticism came at a time when the district leaders were happy with a huge turn-out at the rally. The former chief minister's comments left many leaders surprised. Taking a critical stand, Mr Bhattacharjee said: “What’s left in the party, if the poor people continues to desert us?"
Criticising the Trinamul Congress-led state government's land acquisition police, he said: “The hands-off policy of the Trinamul Congress government in getting land for industries is disastrous.” "We had made some mistakes in our land acquisition policy. But, we rectified it later," he added. A section of party leaders blame Mr Bhattacharjee and his former Cabinet colleague, Mr Nirupam Sen, who hails from Burdwan, for the Left Front government's industrialisation policy. The chief minister, however, today held the party activists-cum-contractors responsible for the party;s poor show in the last Assembly poll.
Defending the LF government's industrialisation policy, Mr Sen, the former industries minister, said: “Industrialisation was essential and we all know these couldn’t be set up in the sky. So it was necessary to acquired land for new industries."
Though the CPI-M has downsized its strength of district committee from 88 to 70, a section of leaders said the party had failed to replace the tainted leaders, who share rapport with contractor and coal mafiosi. The CPI-M has expelled 17 leaders for their alleged allegiance with the Trinamul Congress. Five new persons have been inducted into the district committee.