'Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: Following the political shift in Bengal, the most pressing question now echoing through the corridors of Nabanna is this: how will the fortunes of the state's industry and investment sectors—which have suffered a severe downturn—be revived under the new government's tenure? Addressing precisely this issue on Monday, from the platform of the 'Bharat Chamber of Commerce' in Kolkata, State BJP President Shamik Bhattacharya delivered a massive and highly encouraging '100-day' pledge to the state's industrial fraternity and business chambers. Describing the historic exodus of major corporate entities from Kolkata during the previous Left and Trinamool regimes as utterly shameful and unfortunate, Shamik unequivocally declared that—even though a full-fledged Council of Ministers has not yet been constituted in the state—the new government has already rolled up its sleeves, determined to instantly throw open the doors to investment in Bengal.
Photo: Soumyadeep Sen
Against this backdrop, offering a monumental political assurance to the industrial community, the State BJP President stated: "Standing on this very platform today, I make you a solemn promise. Within just the next 100 days, we are going to undertake such revolutionary measures—or create such a massive impact—in West Bengal's industrial and manufacturing sectors that, once you witness them, every single one of you will be compelled to shower our new government with accolades."
Reassuring the business community and investors, the State BJP President reminded them: "This soil is the sacred land of Kobiguru Rabindranath Tagore and Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee. It deserved to be the most investment-friendly region in the entire country; yet, regrettably, due to the misrule of previous regimes, Bengal's immense potential was never truly allowed to take flight. This time, we will do exactly what is necessary." He further conveyed that timely and stringent laws would be enacted very soon—laws designed to be immensely beneficial and protective for the state's business owners and industrialists. However, Shamik added a caveat: this monumental undertaking cannot be accomplished by a single political party alone; the state's intellectuals and the general public must also vociferously advocate for this transformative change. Today, to highlight the dismal state of industrialization in Bengal, Shamik Bhattacharya cited a glaring example of the current plight of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector. He stated, "I extend an open invitation to new and major investors to come to Bengal. But what is actually happening in our state in the name of small-scale industries? Even ordinary *paan* shops or tea stalls are being registered under the MSME category merely to inflate the numbers and garner accolades! Is this what we aspired to achieve? We must build an MSME infrastructure that is far more advanced and authentic than this. Simultaneously, in the interest of establishing new industries, it is imperative to formulate a highly cohesive and contemporary 'Land Policy' for the state."
Drawing a comparative analysis between Maharashtra and West Bengal, Shamik lamented that, at one time, West Bengal used to compete on equal footing with Maharashtra in terms of industry and economy. Yet today, while nearly 36 percent of the country's total FDI flows into Maharashtra alone, the rate of Foreign Direct Investment in Kolkata has hit rock bottom, standing at a mere 0.6 percent! To put an end to this utter disgrace, the new "Double Engine" government has formulated a massive blueprint for infrastructure development.
The State BJP President raised his voice today regarding the previous government's dilly-dallying and utter failure in infrastructure development concerning the discovery of mineral oil in Ashokenagar, North 24 Parganas. He asserted that work on the project has stalled due to the former government's lack of any concrete foresight.
Concurrently, he also questioned why work on the Chingrighata Metro line, situated along the EM Bypass, had been stalled for years on end. Shamik Bhattacharya remarked, "We are currently living in a truly digital age. Our state must rapidly engage with the Data Center industry and create a fearless, 'level playing field'—or a neutral competitive environment—for investors coming from outside the state. Investors were fully prepared to pour crores of rupees into this state, but the previous government was not ready. However, this time—we are ready." During the event, Samik Bhattacharya also vented his frustration regarding the long-standing neglect faced by North Bengal. He alleged that—from tourism to the world-renowned tea industry—no proper planning had ever been undertaken for any sector in the region. Consequently, impoverished tea workers have been languishing for years, while artisans in the textile industry are seething with resentment.
All in all, Samik made it clear that this government aspires to foster business growth and attract investments worth crores of rupees to Bengal. To realize the vision of this 'Golden Bengal,' the state's 105 million people must stand united.