Now, Mamata wants Ford to set up manufacturing unit in Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is batting for rapid industrialisation in the state, on Monday requested Alfred Ford, the great grandson of Henry Ford, to consider setting up a car manufacturing factory in the state.

The chief minister made a pitch for the unit on Monday while visiting the Mayapur ISKON temple in Nadia district on her way to Krishnanagar, the headquarters of the district to attend a meeting. Alfred Ford, better known as Ambarish Das, is an ISKCON devotee.

Ford has reportedly assured the chief minister that he would consider the proposal.

It can be noted that in 2006, when Mamata Banerjee was the opposition leader, she had spearheaded a massive protest against Tata Motors’ proposal to set up a car manufacturing project at Singur in Hooghly district. Farmers of Singur protested against the move by then government under the chief minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee to acquire 997-acre farming land to set up the Nano car project.

Mamata Banerjee had demanded shifting of the project to elsewhere.

Banerjee is trying to woo industrialists to invest in the state. If Alfred Ford takes a positive step, it would boost the state in its commitment for industrialisation and also enhance the image of the chief minister.