NEW DELHI: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee got an endorsement from the CPI (M) Central Committee on Sunday after he gave clarifications on his statements on foreign investment and related issues during his recent visit to Singapore and Indonesia.

Mr. Bhattacharjee told the committee that the West Bengal Government would not provide agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes, an issue that attracted attention after the State Government talked of township development with a group in Indonesia. He said the State Government did not provide such land to a multinational soft drink company that wanted it for growing potatoes. Instead, the Government insisted the produce be purchased from local farmers, which the company is now doing. He said there was no question of 100 per cent foreign investment. The issue assumes significance since the all-India strike on September 29 being supported by the party was, among other things, against privatisation of airports.

The committee also considered Mr. Bhattacharjee's remark, "perform or perish," that was misquoted as "reform or perish." It said there should be no deviation from the agreed party line on policy matters.

"After hearing the Chief Minister's clarifications, the approach was approved," Polit Bureau member M.K. Pandhe told The Hindu .

Mr. Pandhe said the State Government would try to take over 40,000 acres of land locked in closed industrial units and re-allocate them to small-scale industries. Mr. Bhattacharjee, he said, had clarified that point.

Mr. Pandhe said with 80 lakh unemployed on the rolls, creating jobs was a priority for the Government. The three-day Central Committee meeting that ended on Sunday also discussed the country's political situation, including the one emerging in Bihar.

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