NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul today said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who came to power in 2011 after 34 years of Left Front rule, should be given more time to prove herself.

“You need to give her a little more time. The people have elected her with a lot of affection and love. Please give her more time and people should not be impatient. She must be keen to prove herself and I am sure that she will be able to perform,” Lord Paul told a meet-the-press programme at Press Club.

“She has three more years to go. It is nice in a democracy people have the chance to change,” Lord Paul said.

Asked to comment on the land policy of the present Trinamool Government, he said: “It is not a question of land policy. You must be able to convince the people. It is policy which has to be fair to the people.”

“When Government acquires land, they should inquire for what purpose it was required and a reasonable compensation should be paid. Without reasonable compensation, it is unfair,” he said.

“Industry should not be cashing on the land,” he added.

Asked whether his Caparo group had any investment plan for the State, Lord Paul said: “I am 82 years old, what plans can I have? But there is no plan to invest now.”

“We have interest in the engineering sector and auto components. We were building a plant here, but Singur has become a monument,” he said.

Commenting on the impact of prevailing political atmosphere on business in the State, Lord Paul said “you should not mix politics with business.”

He also condemned the attack on State Finance Minister Amit Mitra in Delhi yesterday.

“I have read about it in the media. Whatever has happened is not desirable.”

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