Kolkata

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.

"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 said.

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 is a washout for them," 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.

"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, "Samajhdar ko 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.

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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 also assured that there would be no violence during the upcoming religious festivals such as Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti.