Mamata Banerjee: Small-scale units more beneficial

Kolkata: The firebrand leader of the Trinamool Congress, Mamata Banerjee, has made headlines over the years for her tireless campaign to make a dent in the communist citadel in West Bengal.

In an exclusive interview to Gulf News, she shares her views about the forthcoming elections and about the challenges that lie ahead.

GULF NEWS: How will you politically define the new rainbow coalition being forged by you this time round given that it counts among its ranks the Congress on the one hand and the Socialist Unity Centre of India, a leftist party, on the other?

MAMATA BANERJEE: In West Bengal, our principal opponent is the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) and, in order to end its misrule, we are willing to join hands with other political outfits so that the anti-Left vote doesn't get divided. This is the primary objective of this coalition and we will continue to fight the CPM and try to free the state from the CPM misrule of 32 years.

A similar alliance with the Congress was formed in 2001, too, although it was in the context of the state legislative assembly elections. The results were apparently far from satisfactory. What makes you believe that it will be different this time?

Last time round, there were some sections which were opposed to our plans, but this time I believe that the Congress leadership is sincere and, most importantly, there is a feeling within the rank and file of the Congress - especially after the incidents of Nandigram and Singur - that without the Trinamool Congress, it will be very difficult for the Congress to make any impression on the current system.

You have fielded two actors as candidates for your party this time. Do you think that they are capable enough to serve the people they will represent if they win? Bollywood actor Govinda, who won on a Congress ticket last time round, was hardly visible in parliament due to his professional engagements. If the same happens with the candidates you have fielded, wouldn't it be unfair to the electorate?

I have full faith in all my candidates and we are more than confident that they will do justice to their job and will not let their people down. It's may be noted that Tapas Pal, who is not only an actor but is also a member of the Legislative Assembly from Alipore constituency, retained his seat.

Singur got a lot of international coverage because the Tatas are respected as an industrial house. Are you against industrialisation?

There is a section of the media, close to the ruling front, which is willing to project my party as anti-industrilisation. The question that we are trying to ask to this government is, 'can you kill farmers in the name of industrialisation?' We are also in favour of industrialisation, but it has to be done with the consent of the people on whose land they are trying to build factories.

Also, why do they insist on acquiring farmland that produces crops thrice a year instead of looking for barren tracts of land?

In the context of the Tatas' Nano project, we raised objection because land just 200 metres away from the site would be rendered unusable. As for the Nandigram protests, the farmers themselves were not willing to give up their land and we just supported their cause. If someone is not willing to give up something that legally belongs to him, can a government in a democratic set-up force its will on that individual? Also, there seems to be collusion between CPM and the Tatas or else why should the group attack my party or time the launch of a car just before the elections?

You are in favour of industrialisation, but it will only be possible if investors can acquire land and build factories on them. In the aftermath of Nandigram, many investors have moved out of the state as land has become an issue. What is your solution.

Industrialisation in Bengal has to happen with the consent of the people. Firstly, in the last 30 years, the ruling front has been instrumental in closing 50 per cent of the existing factories through militant trade unionism. The only word they have contributed to the English language is shutdown, but they haven't done anything substantial that would contribute to the state's progress.

We want to develop small-scale industries, which will be able to generate more employment that these big ticket investments. We also welcome big-ticket investment but they should be acceptable to the people at large.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is in favour of creating smaller states and, if they come to power, they are in favour of carving a Gorkhaland state out of Darjeeling. Will you favour such a move?

We oppose any such move that proposes to divide the state of West Bengal. Please remember that during independence, partition was an immense blow to the people of this part of our country and we have suffered immensely for the same. Hence, there is no question of agreeing to divide West Bengal. But no one seems to be interested in answering the basic question as to why people in the hills are aggrieved. It is because there has been no development in that region for the last 32 years. Darjeeling has the potential to develop into one of the finest hill resorts in the country but, unfortunately, due to the CPM's misrule it is in a mess.

If the ruling United Progressive Alliance comes to power, will you support that government and be a part of it?

Such decisions can be taken only after the election results are declared. But we will not be in any camp that the CPM is a part of.

The world knows Mamata Banerjee as a street fighter. Has that affected your political career? If so, how? Do you seek to change that image?

I think people know me as someone who has always stood against any misrule and has tried to save people from atrocities of the government. I hope to live for the people all my life and serve them to the best of my abilities.

The writer is a journalist based in Kolkata.