West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Credit: PTI Photo
Kolkata: West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Monday described Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as a "visionary, enterprising and dynamic leader," while highlighting the achievements of the state government over the past year.
Delivering his customary address on the first day of the budget session of the state assembly, Bose went on to refer to the recently concluded Bengal Global Business Summit, calling it an "overwhelming success" and expressing confidence that the proposed investments, once implemented, would boost economic activity and create employment opportunities for Bengal's youth.
In his around 26-minute address, half of which was in fluent Bengali, Bose said the law and order in the state had remained peaceful over the past year.
"With the participation of the captains of industries and business delegates from India and 20 partner countries, as many as 212 pacts and letters of intent (LOIs) have been signed and investment proposals to the tune of Rs 4,40,595 crore have been received. Upon implementation, this will lead to enhanced economic activities in the state and create more employment opportunities for the youths of Bengal," he said.
"I am very proud that all major festivals including Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Diwali, Eid, Christmas, Buddha Jayanti, Guru Nanak Jayanti, Mahavir Jayanti, Chhat Puja, Gangasagar Mela and others have been celebrated peacefully and gracefully," he said.
Bose further mentioned that "the state under the visionary leadership of my Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal has made significant progress in terms of economic growth and other financial parameters over the past 13 years".
"The GSDP of West Bengal has increased to Rs 18.15 lakh crore in 2024-25 from Rs 4.61 lakh crore in 2010-11," he mentioned.
He also said Bengal was number 1 in the country in many sectors of development like micro, small and medium enterprises and skill development.
The governor also praised the government for spending one-third of the state's total expenditure on the development and empowerment of women.
He lauded the state government's initiatives like 'Kanyashree', 'Lakshmir Bhandar' and 'Rupasree', among other social security schemes.
"The state government has taken numerous initiatives over the past 13 years to benefit the minority population, focusing on education, modernisation of madrasas, employment generation, skill development, and sustainable livelihoods," he said.
Despite financial constraints and non-receipt of central funds, the state government has continued its commitment to employment generation and rural housing, he added.
"The state introduced 'Karmashree' and 'Banglar Bari (Gramin)' schemes, which are funded entirely through its own resources," Bose said.
Sources in the Raj Bhavan said that the first draft of his speech prepared by the state government was changed, as there were several points on which Bose had expressed disagreement.
When Bose was speaking on the state's law and order situation and women security, leader of the opposition in the state assembly Suvendu Adhikari protested.
Adhikari also protested when the governor spoke on 'Jal Swapno' (drinking water supply scheme), alleging that it was PM's 'Jal Jeevan Mission'.
He also claimed that the state government was "changing the name of central schemes and taking credit".
BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul also protested when Bose spoke on women empowerment and raised the issue of the RG Kar rape and murder case.
Adhikari later told reporters outside the assembly, “The Governor said that police did a commendable job by maintaining law and order during Durga puja in October last year, but did not utter a word on how police had to be deployed at several Saraswati Puja venues a week ago because fundamentalist forces wanted to stop Hindu rituals.”
Paul added: “There was also no mention of the RG Kar case. There was no mention, too, of the Ajarajita Bill that was passed in the assembly this September, aimed at ending rape and child abuse. But even after that, at least seven minors have been raped."