Kolkata, Aug 1 (IANS) West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Samik Bhattacharya on Saturday said it would take some time for the new government to stop extortion in the state completely.
The BJP Rajya Sabha MP said that despite the state government working hard to ensure development in Bengal, it has not yet been possible to stop extortion fully.
He also admitted there are “deviations” and warned party workers about this.
He made the remarks while speaking at a special programme at IIT Kharagpur Research Park in the Rajarhat area of Kolkata.
Bhattacharya spoke about the state’s progress from the education sector to industry, while also cautioning against corruption.
“We have not been able to stop extortion completely. There are deviations. Those among us who had latent desires are now active. We have to come out of politics. We have become residents of a political society during the previous government era. We want freedom from this. Politics is infiltrating everywhere, at every step. Until West Bengal can come out of this, no government will be able to bring change. It will not be able to bring investment,” Bhattacharya said.
He also warned BJP workers against getting involved in illegal activities, asserting that action would be taken if any allegations of corruption were raised.
The BJP state president urged party workers and leaders to move away from the shadow of party politics that prevailed during the previous Left Front and Trinamool Congress governments.
During the Trinamool government’s rule in the state, there were allegations of rampant corruption. Industrialists and entrepreneurs turned away from Bengal due to the practice of collecting illegal commissions or cut money. After the change of government in the state, the BJP government is taking several development programmes.
According to Bhattacharya, industrialists have already started coming to Bengal under the double engine government.
He said that everything from health and education to industry is being reorganised. The state government has given a message of “zero tolerance” for corruption.
–IANS
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