Kolkata, Aug 22 - Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee, known for leading agitations against the Tata Group's small car project in Singur and a special economic zone in Nandigram, was lavishly praised by West Bengal industrialists at a meeting here.

'We have confidence (that) under your leadership we can contribute meaningfully to India's development,' RPG Enterprises vice-chairman Sanjiv Goenka said at an interaction here Friday.

'Congratulations for initiating path-breaking measures for modernising the railways with a human face,' was what Harshpati Singhania, president of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), had to say about the railways minister.

Singur and Nandigram, which saw Banerjee lead strident protests against land acquisition for industries, seemed like fairy tales as industrialists vied with one another to laud Banerjee. There was not a word about the widespread criticism earlier, that her agitations were scaring investors away from West Bengal.

'The meeting was outstanding. The industry is very positive about this meeting,' Sanjay Budhia, managing director of Patton International Ltd, said afterwards.