September 18, 2026 01:50 am (IST)
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Ratan Tata hits back at Amit Mitra's barb
Kolkata, Aug 7 (IBNS): Reacting to West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra's comment, Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons Ratan Tata on Thursday said he "never spoke of industrial development in the state" and said the WB minister's remark was needless.
This came after Mitra said Tata "has lost his mind".
"My comments yesterday referred to my drive from the airport to the Maurya via Rajarhat. I saw lots of residential and commercial development but not much industrial development," Tata said in a statement.
"I made no comment about the industrial development in the state. Mr Mitra's comments are therefore surprising," he said calling the comment "needless".
Slamming Mitra, Tata said, "Mr Mitra might believe I have lost my mind. I would be delighted if he could show me what industrial development projects I missed while driving through Rajarhat. If he cannot, then I would have to conclude that he has a very fertile imagination."
A day after Ratan Tata, who visited Kolkata on Wednesday, said he did not see much signs of industrial development in the West Bengal, the finance minister of the Mamata Banerjee government on Thursday hit back.
"He has lost his mind [Oner Motibhrom Hoyeche]," West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra said in Bengali on Thursday.
He said Ratan Tata is perhaps not properly briefed by his own people.
"I don't know why he said this. TCS has said it will create 20,000 jobs in a new campus. Maybe he hasn't kept tab of that.
"Tata Metallicks applied to us last week for their expansion," claimed Mitra.
"Doesn't he know Anil Ambani is investing here? If I give you a list, it will take all day. Perhaps he should concentrate on his other hobbies like flying planes." Mitra said on the sidelines of a function here.
Tata earlier said on Wednesday: "It has been about two years since I came to Kolkata... While driving from Rajarhat, I saw it is an unbelievable change in terms new buildings. But it still looks like a countryside, undeveloped.
Tata was at an interactive session organised by the Ladies Study Group of Indian Chamber of Commerce.
He said: "I do not see much signs of industrial development."
Tata, who was the chairman of Tata Sons then had to shift the Nano plant from Singur in West Bengal to Sanand in Gujarat.
A total of 997 acres of land in Singur was given to the Tatas for their dirt-cheap Nano car factory by the previous Left Front government, triggering huge protest led by current West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and supported by various civil society groups.
Of the 13,000 owners of land, 2000 had rejected the compensation for about 400 acres of land, leading to the protests.
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