Kolkata: In a significant address on Saturday, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari declared that the era of "goonda raj" and appeasement had ended, promising to attract investment and create jobs for educated youth. He asserted that national security would now be the state's foremost priority.
Adhikari's Vision for a Strong Bengal
Speaking at a programme in Alipore, Adhikari highlighted the transformation of the police force, which he alleged had previously functioned as party cadre under the previous administration. "Past is past. Trust me and let's join hands to build a strong Bengal," he urged, calling upon investors to come to the state with an assurance of support from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Border Security and National Concerns
Launching a sharp attack on the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, Adhikari alleged that approximately 600 kilometers of the Bangladesh border remained unfenced because the TMC government had withheld land from the Border Security Force (BSF). "They did this to help infiltrators, and thus the demography of Bengal changed. They did not think about national security — security was compromised. Now national security is our first priority," he stated emphatically.
Religious Freedom and Cultural Heritage
On the issue of religious freedom, Adhikari claimed that permissions for major festivals such as Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Ram Navami, Hanuman Jayanti, and Geeta Path at the Maidan had to be sought from the High Court. "People were tortured a lot," he remarked, expressing his commitment to ensuring religious liberty. Describing Bengal as both India's cultural and spiritual capital, Adhikari cited the examples of Ramakrishna and Sarada Ma. He promised better facilities at religious centres, including improved arrangements for pilgrims at Tarakeswar during the Shravan month. Additionally, he announced plans to develop the Sagar Mela into an international event, aiming to boost tourism and cultural exchange.
