For Left Front, It’s a Case Of Sour Grapes: Mamata

Kenduli (west Bengal), Jan 18 (IANS) Days after her predecessor Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee accused the Trinamool Congress regime of failing to tap investment and create jobs, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said her government had enough land to set up industries and so there was no need to acquire land "forcibly".

At an official function here in Birbhum district, Banerjee said: "Land won't be forcibly acquired as we have one lakh acres of land in our land bank and 5,000 acres at industrial parks for setting up of industries."

In an obvious reference to Bhattacharjee, she said: "For them, it's a case of sour grapes. They (Left Front) did nothing during their 34-year rule.

"Now, a lot of development is taking place. But they are unable to see the investments."

She justified the anti-acquisition peasant protests led by her party at Singur where the Communist Party of India-Marxist spearheaded Left Front had acquired land for setting up the Tata Nano small car plant.

"We protested in Singur because they killed innocent farmers in the name of industry. We did the right thing."

Banerjee said her government felt the state needed both agriculture and industry.

"Agriculture and industry are like siblings. We must give importance to both," she said.