Reform to court us: Investors tell Buddha

While his party is hardening its anti-reforms stand here, West Bengal Chief Minister and CPI(M) Politburo member Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee decided to spend time today to meet potential investors from this rich industrial belt, only to find that they want reforms, particularly in the labour laws of the state. The CPI(M) and its trade union wing CITU are generally opposed to such ideas.

"We have told the CM that we need flexible labour laws in the state. Like Andhra Pradesh, the West Bengal government should also place textile industry under public utility services. This will ensure that there won't be any problem with the trade unions and production won't get hampered by illegal strikes by the workers," K Selvaraju, secretary general of the Southern India Mills Association (SIMA), told Business Standard after the meeting.

Bhattacharjee today met representatives of the textile industry and automobile components for over an hour, accompanied by State Industry Minister Nirupam Sen and Information Technology Minister Manab Mukherjee. However, Sen assured the SIMA that they won't face any labour problems.

The investors made it clear to the CM that the state government's offers had to be competitive with the facilities provided by other states.

"We have also asked for uninterrupted power at reasonable prices. In Tamil Nadu, we get electricity at the rate of Rs 4.20 per unit, while AP is giving us power at Rs 2.50. If the West Bengal government wants investments from us, it should give power at least at AP's rate," said another investor.

The textile lobby has also asked for at least 50 per cent subsidies in the transportation cost of raw materials (cotton) as it is availed from western parts of the country.

Although the demands to reform labour laws are unlikely to happen, Bhattacharjee, poster boy of the party's industrialisation endeavour, met the investors in a merrier time.

Last night, Karat had thrown his weight behind the party's quest for industrialisation. In his reply to the draft political resolution, Karat said, "We have to get private investments. If Kerala doesn't get them, Karnataka will take them away."

Bhattacharjee also told the gathering today: "Although large-scale investments have come to Bengal, it hasn't created job opportunities for people below poverty line and women. Textiles can create jobs for these two sections of the society."

Meanwhile, giving whole-hearted support to the bid for industrialisation of its three chief ministers, the CPI(M) has asked its governments to tread with caution on the question of large-scale land acquisition for industries.

The party today circulated a secret document among the delegates of the 19th Party Congress on the experience of the CPI(M)-led governments in this regard.

In the document, the party has tried to fine-tune its quest for industrialisation. It has directed its governments not to allow investors "extract unreasonable concessions which go against the public interest".

SEZ has also been given green signal by the party which has asked its governments in Kerala and Tripura to follow the West Bengal policy on land-use.