Kolkata, April 20 (FN Agency) West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday urged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to “pro-actively catalyse” a “development bonhomie”, ensure synergic working between the central and state governments and underlined the need for systemic rather than “individualistic functioning”. In loaded comments, while inaugurating the sixth Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS), Dhankhar – who has had bitter feuds with the Mamata Banerjee led administration on plethora of issues on virtually a daily basis – called for accommodating the “other point of view” and said it was imperative “to distance development from (a) partisan stance”.
Repeatedly showering praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government for enhancing connectivity and improving the infrastructure in the eastern part of the country, the Governor said India has recently seen “unprecedented inclusive growth and massive empowerment and uplift of the vulnerable sections of the society”. Dhankhar also time and again referred to the “honourable” Chief Minister, as he made veiled references to several issues which he had been flagging since his arrival to the state in 2019. “If I flag issues, the wholesome object is to fast-track development of the state. My reflections exemplify my conscience and are in the nature of constructive suggestions. We must have accommodation for the other point of view,” he said, adding more often than not, “such point of view turns out to be the correct one.”
While highlighting the state’s enormous potential, abundant natural resources and “unrivalled human resource”, Dhankhar said it would be “appropriate” for the Chief Minister “to pro-actively catalyse … development bonhomie with all concerned and it is imperative to distance development from partisan stance”. At the time of independence, West Bengal had a major place in the Indian economy, said the Governor. “There is need to replicate the scenario and … combat the flight of capital .and human resource from the state” “This can fructify by a synergic working between the central and state governments and all entities concerned, resulting in a geometric economic leap for the state”. “Undoubtedly, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in her third tenure, is eminently qualified to secure the synergic working with the central government, the central government entities,” he remarked.
Hoping that the state government was alive to the need of an “investment-friendly wholesome ecosystem” in governance, Dhankhar said it was necessary as investors look for political stability, democratic governance, transparent and accountable mechanism and systemic working coupled with a “peaceful environment and rule of law”. “West Bengal must work to be a significant part of India’s ongoing economic rise by credibly exemplifying its commitment to transparent accountable decision making, that is pivoted on systemic, and not individualistic functioning,” he said. He exuded confidence that the state administration would do all it can to ensure “these vital elements are amply reflected as ground reality to bolster the confidence of the prospective investors”. Dhankhar added: “There is a need for convergence, rising above partisan interest, to serve the cause if democracy”.