Shah blames Mamata for lack of development in Bengal

Asserting that central schemes alone would not bring development, BJP president Amit Shah on Wednesday hit out at the Mamata Banerjee government for what he termed its failure to create a conducive environment in West Bengal.

Raking up the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam as well as bomb explosions in the state, Shah criticised the state government on a day when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is slated to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

"Development cannot be done through schemes alone. At the time of independence, Bengal was one of the leading states in the country. But as time passed, it regressed. After a long rule by the communists, people brought in Trinamool Congress on expectations of change, but people got only disappointment from them," said Shah.

"Unless there is a conducive atmosphere, there cannot be any development. The need is to create a conducive environment, and that can be created only when there is political initiative," the BJP president said.

"If money goes more into Saradha than in industry, if there are daily bombs blasts and people live in apprehension, then there can be no development," said Shah, whose party has always been on the offensiveness over the Saradha issue in which several Trinamool leaders have been arrested or quizzed by the CBI.

Claiming that the BJP-led central government was eager to help out all the states irrespective of political party in power, Shah enumerated the centre's initiatives in ushering in development in Bengal and the eastern region.

"Under the recommendation of the 14th Finance Commission, Bengal is getting Rs.2.85 lakh crore, which is Rs.1.80 lakh crore more than the previous years. Besides, Bengal is getting Rs.12,000 crore under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gurantee Act scheme and Rs.8,000 crore will be spend towards electrifying 19 districts of the state," said Shah.

The BJP leader said more than 1.82 crore accounts were opened under the Jan Dhan scheme in Bengal while 10 lakh life insurance and 45 lakh accidental insurance policies were issued in the state under the social security schemes.

"Irrespective of the party in power, the central is always eager to join hands with all the states to bring in development. The central government is always ready to provide the funds, but it is up to the state government on how to utilise these.

"I hope the people of Bengal will work towards creating a conducive environment and I hope the Bengal government will also take initiative in this regard," added Shah.