By IANS,
Kolkata : Industrialists hailed Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee after she became the chief minister of West Bengal Friday, saying it was a “fantastic” and “historic” day.
Inventor, entrepreneur and policy maker Sam Pitroda said: “I was looking forward to this day. I know Mamata Banerjee as a friend since the day of Rajiv Gandhi. I will continue to advice and assist her in all her endeavours.”
Tata Ryerson Managing Director Sandipan Chakravortty said it was a “fantastic change”.
“We were looking for the significant change to come which will benefit the state and the industry. In my expectations she will focus on education and small and medium scale enterprises. She will also try in her own way to get big industries,” he said.
According to Chakravortty, Banerjee did not have an anti-industry image.
He said: “She is pro-agriculture. She never said that she is against industry or the Tatas. As regard to industry, it will take time. But she will try to deliver.”
Following intense anti-land acquisition protests in Singur led by the Trinamool Congress, Tata Motors had pulled out its Nano project from the town in Hooghly district.
On the Singur land, Chakravortty said: “Something has to be done there. It is an idle asset. There are legal aspects involved in it. The land is still owned by the Tatas.”
RPG Group chairman Sanjiv Goenka hoped that Banerjee would come with a lot of positivity for industry.
“She has the rare quality of relating to the poorest of the poor and richest of the rich, which very few politicians have,” he said.
On his expectations from the new government, Goenka said: “It is not the time to express our expectations, but to ask what she expects from us. We are confident that she will try her best to achieve long-term growth, especially for industry.”
According to Sanjay Budhia, managing director of Patton International, it was a “historic day”.
“Only Mamata Banerjee has the power to bring industry to Bengal. She will be able to achieve growth with a human face,” he said.