Lawlessness and unrest which some political parties are trying to incite in the State will only impede development and generation of employment opportunities. It is time to create jobs now; we have got to move ahead, there is no way back, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said in Burdwan on Thursday.
Reiterating the need for greater industrialisation that will create additional jobs as well as for consolidating the gains achieved in the agricultural sector, he regretted that the Opposition in the State is trying to reverse the logic of all social development from village to town, from agriculture to industry.
What sort of an Opposition are they, who neither understand the needs of the people nor the requirements of the country? he asked.
Mr. Bhattacharjee was addressing the open session of the four-day 34th State conference of the Paschim Banga Pradeshik Krishak Sabha (the West Bengal unit of the peasants wing of the Communist Party of India [Marxist]).
The Chief Minister cautioned against the divisive forces that were at work in different parts of the State as well as those of communalism like the Bharatiya Janata Party that is trying to rear its head like a cobra, thus imperilling the country. Neither did he spare the Manmohan Singh government for its policies which have resulted in spiralling costs of essential commodities and its failure in the agricultural front resulting in thousands of farmers, unable to cope with the distress, committing suicide.
The global economic crisis was a reminder that capitalism is not the solution to all problems. But will Barack Obama, who has now entered the White House and is the new U.S. President ever be able to admit so? Mr. Bhattacharjee asked.
On industrialisation in the State, he said it is not a question of the Trinamool Congress and we being at odds [on the issue] but that of the future of thousands of our youths. How can jobs be generated without more industries? That is why we are repeatedly telling the Opposition not to take the path of confrontation, Mr. Bhattacharjee said.
Despite the States success in the agricultural sector, there is need to raise productivity to higher levels. But what is also imperative to ensure 100 days of work under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act for the entire rural population, more self-help women groups and school education for all children for which the panchayats and the government will have to work together.