Kolkata, West Bengal:
With assembly elections around the corner, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee called for "more and more" industries in order to generate employment and promised a pension scheme for labourers."We need more and more industries in order to generate employment for the youth of Bengal. Where will these young people go for jobs," Bhattacharjee asked while addressing an election rally in Kolkata.
Referring to Singur anti-land acquisition protests, he said: "During Singur there were problems. We have learnt from that. Now industries are coming up in various places of the state. But we need more in order to fit in the young generation."
Bhattacharjee also promised a pension scheme for rickshaw-pullers, porters and other labourers.
"There are various labourers and working class men like rickshaw-pullers, coolies (porters), and masons. We need to do something for them. We will take up a pension scheme for these labourers so that after the age of 60 when they won't be able to work they will get money to survive," said Bhattacharjee.
Again striking a note of self-criticism, Bhattacharjee asked a section of party workers to shun arrogance and rectify their mistakes.
"People didn't vote for Trinamool Congress. They have voted against us to teach us a lesson, as they were fed up with the arrogance of a section of party workers. Those who have misbehaved with the people please go back to masses and apologise," said Bhattacharjee.
The six-phase assembly election in the state will begin April 18 and end May 10. The results will be declared May 13.