A passing remark by industrialist Ratan Tata on the pace of industrialisation in West Bengal rocked the State politics on Thursday.

In an interaction organised by the Ladies Study Group of FICCI on Wednesday, the Chairman Emeritus of the Tata Group expressed dissatisfaction over industrialisation in West Bengal.

“It has been about two years since I came to Kolkata... While driving through Rajarhat, I saw it is an unbelievable change in terms of new buildings. But it still looks like a countryside, undeveloped...I do not see much signs of industrial development.”

The West Bengal Government did not take the remark lightly. On Thursday, State IT, Finance and Commerce & Industry Minister Amit Mitra said Ratan Tata had lost his mind.

“ Onar motibhrom hoyche (he has become senile)…” Mitra told reporters on the sidelines of an ICT summit organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

“I am surprised that he has not been briefed properly. He is not aware about the expansion of his own Group companies — TCS and Tata Metalliks — here in the State,” Mitra said and advised Ratan Tata to “concentrate on his hobbies like flying aeroplanes”.

Stepping up the attack, State Urban Development Minister Firhad (Bobby) Hakim said “ hoyto matha kharap hoye gechhe (he has gone mad)”. Hakim who is considered a close confidante of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the Government does not need either a “certificate” or “advise” from Tata. The State Transport Minister Madan Mitra too criticised Tata’s remarks.

However, the personal attack on Ratan Tata has appalled industry. While many refused to go on record fearing backlash from the State Government, apex chamber Assocham described Amit Mitra’s remarks as “uncalled for” and would dent the image of West Bengal.

“Ratan Tata is a highly admired industrialist across the world. The West Bengal Industry Minister should have avoided such remarks. And such comments are uncalled for,” a Chamber spokesperson said.

Other political parties, including the CPI (M), Congress and the BJP, slammed the State Finance Minister for the personal attack (on Tata).

Meanwhile, Ratan Tata tweeted that “Mitra’s anger was needless”. According to him, the comments made yesterday were on the basis of his drive from the airport to the venue of the FICCI meeting through the New Town satellite township.

Tata tweets

“I saw lots of residential and commercial development but not much industrial development. I made no comment about the industrial development in the State. Amit Mitra’s comments are therefore surprising,” he said.

“Mitra might believe that I have ‘lost my mind’. I would be delighted if he could show me what industrial development projects I missed while driving through Rajarhat. If he cannot, then I would have to conclude that he has a very fertile imagination,” he added.

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