JAIPUR: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said here on Thursday that the Left Front Governments in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura had the same policies, and any difference in their functioning was only a matter of style.

"Ours is a disciplined party. We follow the same policies," he said. "The development paradigms are the same — land reforms, protecting the workers and ensuring a better life to people living below the poverty line."

Addressing mediapersons at Mazdoor Kisan Bhavan, State headquarters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) here, he also ruled out any differences between him and other party leaders over economic policies. "Our party position is very clear. We want private investment in West Bengal." "We need foreign direct investment (FDI) though that does not mean we will allow Americans to sell vegetables there," Mr. Bhattacharjee said, referring to the retail chain multinational, Wal-Mart. "In the retail trade, we cannot allow FDI." On the Vande Mataram controversy, he said, "You cannot compel everybody to sing the song. Everybody has a right to sing or not to. This is a secular democratic country. You cannot force anyone." Mr. Bhattacharjee refuted reports that his Government was facilitating contract farming. "There are two-three companies, including Pepsi and Dabur, which are into food processing. They buy products from farmers, who are free not to sell to them."

On the norms for special economic zones (SEZs), he said his Government's position was that at least 50 per cent of the acquired land should be utilised for industries. "It is a very sensitive issue. The debate is about whether fertile land should be acquired for SEZs, and if we must, what could be the compensation to farmers. In my opinion, if land is acquired, the farmers should be provided with alternative jobs, besides adequate compensation for their land." Mr. Bhattacharjee was in the Rajasthan capital on his way to a public meeting in Sikar.

Breakfast meeting

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje invited Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee for breakfast here on Thursday. The Marxist veteransought clearance from his party's Central leadership before accepting the gesture.

The Central leadership of the CPI (M), in turn, contacted its Rajasthan unit before giving the go-ahead to Mr. Bhattacharjee. However, the courtesy was not extended to any CPI (M) State functionary.

Mr. Bhattacharjee said Ms. Raje discussed the Marwari population in West Bengal during their meeting at her Civil Lines residence. "Ms. Raje told me that Marwaris are happy in West Bengal. I told her that they are playing a major role in our economy," he said. Unlike other visiting State dignitaries, Mr. Bhattacharjee stayed in a five-star hotel near the airport.

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