Siliguri/Kolkata: After being sworn in as a minister in the newly formed Bengal government, Siliguri BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh on Monday said he 'cannot forget' his roots and would ensure that concerns of north Bengal are brought to relevant departments and acted upon. Speaking to TOI over the phone shortly after taking the oath of office, Ghosh said he had spent the past five years raising issues from the opposition bench and would now work within the administration to address them.
From Opposition to Government
'Earlier, I was in the opposition and could only raise my voice on issues. Now that I am part of the government, I will place the concerns of north Bengal before concerned departments and work towards resolving them,' Ghosh said. He noted that a dedicated minister for the development of north Bengal, Nisith Pramanik, would ensure that the needs of locals receive focused attention.
Environmental and Educational Priorities
The Siliguri MLA emphasized that environmental degradation, which he frequently highlighted as a member of the opposition, would remain his priority. He added that one of the new administration's key objectives would be to dismantle the long-standing sense of deprivation felt in north Bengal and ensure balanced development across the region.
Ghosh, who arrived for the swearing-in ceremony dressed in a traditional Bengali white dhoti-panjabi, said that prioritizing Bengali identity, education, and culture would be among the key priorities of the new government. 'For 15 years, narratives were floated about Bengal's decline, so there is a need for comprehensive work in all areas,' he said, adding that restoring public trust in government schools would be one of the most significant tasks.
'It is evident that the current curriculum did not instill patriotism in students. Instead, political events like Singur and Nandigram were included in the syllabus. No effort was made to foster love for the nation,' Ghosh stated. He also mentioned that special attention needed to be given to fee structures in private schools, as Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had previously stated.
