By Sujoy Dhar
Kolkata, Sep 27 (IANS) Even as his comrades warn about the dangers from “US imperialism”, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharaya is wooing American investment for his communist-ruled state.
After months of bad publicity over the deaths of villagers in Nandigram and Singur protesting against acquisition of farmland for industry, Bhattacharya is chanting the industrialisation mantra once again.
The chief minister is expected to pull off a spectacular show in January when California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected here as part of a large business delegation.
Suja Lowenthal, a councillor from Long Beach, California, said Kolkata could be on Arnold’s itinerary if he makes it to India early next year.
“We had thought of bringing a 15-member business delegation in November. However, we are now trying to push it back to January so that it coincides with the governor’s tour,” she said.
Lowenthal is here with William Allen, the chief executive of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp, and Vance Baugham, the president of the World Trade Center Association.
While his Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) charts anti-Americanism as its path, Bhattacharya, a dhoti-clad Bengali bhadralok (gentleman), woos Uncle Sam and the dollar without any remorse.
“We never said we are against American capital. If there is employment from such investment, why not? I don’t think the chief minister is going beyond the party’s line to woo Americans,” Shymal Chakraborty, a leader of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), explained to IANS.
“What is the harm if the Americans bring new technology? We welcome any investment from any country and America is no exception,” said Chakraborty, who even supports an India-US nuclear deal sans the “contentious parts that can result in compromising the nation’s sovereignty”.
But industrialists admit it won’t be easy for Bhattacharya.
“We all know that he visits the party office at Alimuddin Street every morning at 9 before starting his day as chief minister. In a party like the CPI-M, can he really go beyond the party’s mandate?” asked prominent industrialist Sanjay Budia.
“But it is never too late. We always thought that economics and politics should not be linked,” he added.
Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) president S. Radhakrishnan said that they were trying to bring together companies in California and West Bengal.
Added Allen: “We are focusing on infrastructure, healthcare, tourism, food processing, bio-medicals, port, municipal affairs, environment and renewable energy.”
Bhattacharya has also decided to send his Industry Minister Nirupam Sen to the US to attract investment.Speculation is rife that Bhattacharya himself would visit the US later.