Ever since Md. Ghulam Rabbani, the Hon’ble Minister, Minority Affairs & Madrassah Education in Government of West Bengal, tweeted Tesla’s founder and CEO Elon Musk to “drop here” we in West Bengal have best infra & our leader @MamataOfficial has got the vision. He ended with Bengal means Business…’ The minister’s tweet was after a tweet by Musk, which stated, ‘Still working through a lot of challenges with the government.’
Ever since the social networks exploded, many mocked the minister, and a few welcomed him for the invitation to Musk. I’m not getting into these trivialities by groups wedded to a firmly moulded ‘for and against’ stand on any and every issue pertaining to the State.
That Tesla is scouting for a good location in India is no secret. It is also not a secret that the founder CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk, is regarded as one of the most intelligent specimens of Homo sapiens. Therefore, one must exercise caution, courtesy and diplomacy in communications, particularly relating to any government. An invitation by the Chief Minister of the State would have been ideal, if not, by the Commerce Minister, if not by the Chief Secretary, Commerce Secretary, the Chairman of the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation, in that order. Invitation by a Minority and Madrasah makes it confusing because someone must explain to Elon Musk what a minority and majority in the Indian context are.
One cannot wish away the ghost of Nano now chasing Didi and the reasons for her earlier chasing out the auto major from Bengal. They are heavy shackles, impeding any progress. The repeated affirmation that the government will not acquire any land for industry must be revisited, reviewed and recalled if West Bengal needs to grow on the industrial front. As one intensely following the industrial scenario in West Bengal, contrary to the bytes from the State Commerce Ministry, the growth compared to the fast-growing Indian states is tardy and might remain so.
Emotions of a few individuals on the social networks are fine but will not bring in investments on a large scale, which is the domain of the government. Right now, Tesla is demanding duty concessions, which, if permitted by the Central Government, would put all other EV manufacturers at a disadvantage. The complex situation requires a balancing between the already existing manufacturers and Tesla, only after which Tesla can finalise its India entry and the beginning of the States’ roles.
Notwithstanding Tesla, electric vehicles are a big churner, and many States have already started building big infrastructure for the same. Why should not Bengal declare an EV park well in advance with proper infrastructure to woo the budding industry, which could be trillions worth in the next decade?
Regional love and high passions are fine to mourn together, but Bengal cannot achieve industrial growth without changing the mindset and change in the State’s industrial policies.
With offence to none!
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix.
