“There has to be a change in mindset here. Threats and agitations will not work if Bengal is to progress,” Sen said at a seminar on “The Direction of West Bengal’s Development” during the course of which he declared himself to be a “Leftist”. Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was present during the occasion.

“Once a major political party decides to shut down an industry, it happens. The challenge is how to change the situation. Both big industry and smaller players need to be reassured that their business will not be shut down at any moment. The problem of this state is political in nature. For the state to progress, politics and economics should be taken together,” Sen said.

While criticising the Trinamool’s stance vis-a-vis Singur, he did not spare the Left Front government as well. Alluding to the issue of forcible acquisition of land for industry, Sen said the acquisition process for obtaining land should be held as the “last resort”.