Kolkata, Jun 13 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday said the state’s economy must be strengthened and investment brought in to generate employment, while asserting that improved law and order under the BJP government was beginning to show results.
Speaking at a felicitation ceremony organised by the Bengal Vikas Forum here this evening, Adhikari said the government was working towards making the state business-friendly with flexible land policies and better policing.
“Bengal’s economy must be strengthened. Investment has to be brought in through a business-friendly, industry-friendly government with a flexible land policy and good law and order,” he said.
The CM said the government had begun providing land to the BSF for fencing the India-Bangladesh border and claimed that 12 holding centres had been set up while 5,000 illegal immigrants had been deported.
“This work, which has been initiated, will be completed properly,” he said.
Adhikari said the state needed urgent revival to address unemployment.
Urging entrepreneurs to create job opportunities, he said, “Poverty has to be eradicated wherever it exists in Bengal. We have to rebuild Bengal. There are more than two crore educated unemployed youth in the state, while one crore migrant labourers and highly skilled educated people have left the state.” He urged entrepreneurs to invest in the state to create jobs, alleging that the previous TMC government had damaged Bengal’s industrial base.
He also said traders were shifting to other states due to past policies.
Taking a swipe at the opposition, Adhikari said the current government was only five weeks old and asked whether incidents of “cut money”, syndicate raj or goondaism were still being reported.
He further claimed that the political situation had changed in the state, adding that “strongmen and extortionists” were now seeking public forgiveness.
Referring to the political situation in the TMC, Adhikari said a senior leader from north Kolkata was “also making rounds of Delhi”, without naming anyone.
His remarks came amid reports of a meeting between TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Union Minister Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi on Saturday.
“No one is left for them. It’s a washout,” he said.
Adhikari alleged that the previous TMC government had ruled with “arrogance, corruption and appeasement politics”, and said the people had rejected “dynastic politics” in the state.
He said the mayors of Kolkata and Bidhannagar have “resigned and fled.” Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim and neighbouring Bidhannagar’s first citizen Krishna Chakraborty resigned from their posts, leading to the appointment of administrators in both the corporations.
“Those who abuse the Sanatanis, term Mahakumbh as Mrityukumbh, those who bring out rallies against Ram Mandir, cannot rule for long,” Adhikari said.
Adhikari said he had visited Kalighat Kali temple, Bharat Sevashram and ISKCON Mayapur soon after taking oath, adding, “Samajhdaro ke liye ishara kafi hai” (A hint is enough for the wise).
He further said in the past five weeks, there had been no incidents of extortion or syndicate activity, and claimed that policing had improved.
Referring to an incident of stone pelting at Park Circus, he said he had personally visited the area and warned that such incidents would not be repeated.
He assured that there would be no violence during the upcoming religious festivals such as Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti.
Stating that strict action would be taken against attacks on police personnel, Adhikari said incidents such as those witnessed at Mothabari in Malda where judicial officers were gheraoed and targeted during the SIR exercise or during the anti-Waqf Amendment law implementation protests in Murshidabad district’s Samserganj, Beldanga and Dhulian were now a thing of the past.
“There will not be any more need to knock on the doors of the Calcutta High Court for holding pujas,” he asserted.
The chief minister said the tourism sector will be revamped through the development of the hills, Sunderbans, Purulia and seaside areas.
Pointing to illegal constructions in some parts of Kolkata, some of which were brought down, the chief minister said, “This is only the trailer, a lot more is left to be done.” Maintaining that he has taken the oath as the chief minister to take along everyone, he said Kolkata has to be made a beautiful city and greenery has to be increased in the metropolis.
Adhikari announced that a five-day cleanliness drive would be undertaken in Kolkata from June 15.
“There must not be liquor shops near schools and places of worship,” he said.
The chief minister said West Bengal State Day would be celebrated on June 20.
“The previous government’s thinking was so bad that in a bid to belittle the contributions of Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Swami Pranabananda, they declared Poila Boisakh as the state day,” he alleged.
“We have nullified that decision and declared June 20 as the State Day,” he said.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend a grand programme on the occasion at Tarakeswar in Hooghly district.
He added that World Yoga Day will be celebrated in a big way on June 21 in the state, which will be attended by Modi in Kolkata. PTI AMR MNB
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