Lok Sabha Speaker and former CPM member Somnath Chatterjee on Friday said India should not lose the momentum of increasing economic growth rates in the last few years due to ?confrontational politics? and ?divisive, disruptionist and diversionary tactics.? ?Economic development cannot be subjected to political muscle-flexing without caring for their destructive effect, only to suit narrow political interest,? he said in an obvious reference to the trouble facing the Tatas? Nano venture in Singur.
?All parties must have a vested interest in economic development, which alone can bring about and sustain the pace of progress and can create comprehensive opportunities for people?s sustenance through creation of jobs and initiation of economic activities,? the Speaker said while delivering the JRD Tata Memorial Lecture in the capital. ?What is happening today in some states of our country for the presumed benefits of some sections of the people, is essentially destructive of the concept (of development)?and are manifestations of the worst form of confrontational politics, which will only take the country back to the days of economic stagflation.? His comments come at a time when the Left Front government in West Bengal is grappling to prevent the Tatas from pulling their investments out of the state thanks to persistent opposition from Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee.
The Speaker even quoted Tata group chairman Ratan Tata to drive home his point about the need to change past mindsets: ?This is the time for India to shift gears and for our leaders to view India in the global context?competing and excelling?We can no longer compare ourselves with our own past history nor be satisfied with growth and improvement in small increments.?