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| Political parties sing infrastructure tune |
| BS Reporters / Kolkata Mar 26, 2009, 00:05 IST |
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Development of small and medium enterprises, investment in social and economic infrastructure, inclusive growth and employment generation appeared to be the main objectives of political parties here.
Keen to win seats in the Lok Sabha polls, leaders of political parties presented their economic agenda at an interactive session organised by Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BNCCI) and highlighted these aims to businessmen. Mohammad Salim of CPI(M) stated that the ‘aam admi’ policy should be adopted by the government to attain inclusive growth and remove social inequality, a standard Left position. “Social inequalities have increased over the years - a few people have become richer and the masses were left behind. What we require is not stimulus packages and bail out packages but a strong basis for industry, with a people-friendly, investor-friendly policies to spur demand and growth”, he said.
“The Left would strive towards removing all social inequalities, ensuring employment for all and for boosting infrastructure to help create employment opportunities,” he claimed.
Trinamool Congress (TC) leader Partha Chatterjee claimed the Left had done nothing till now.
"The economic agenda of all parties is more or less same, the difference lies in implementation and the Left has done nothing," Chatterjee pointed out.
Of the 5048 industrial approvals lying with the state, only 1218 had been implemented, he alleged. Around 47 per cent of closed small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country were in West Bengal, added Chatterjee. "TC wants industrialisation in the state but not at the cost of agriculture. TC always wanted a land bank and a uniform tax policy, wanted development for people but not at their cost”, he claimed.
“There are about 15,000 closed units in the state that could provide employment to about 15 lakh people. The Left is talking of a better performance at the centre with poor performance at the state," he alleged.
Tathagata Roy, member of national executive committee of BJP, claimed that the party was ready to work with either Congress or TMC to ensure implementation of the proposals of manifestos, along with simplifying governance and empowering civil society.
Roy said ‘bandhs’ called upon by political parties should be avoided.
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