TMC-Era investments Were Fraud: Bengal CM
“All are welcome, provided they are not fraud": West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday described investments announced under the previous Trinamul Congress government as "fraudulent" and advocated banning mobile phones in schools and restoring the pass-fail system.
Speaking to reporters at Ramnagar in East Midnapore, Adhikari criticised the previous government's investment summits, alleging that crores of rupees had been wasted without delivering meaningful results.
"All are welcome, provided they are not fraud. All were fraud during the previous government," he said, referring to investment proposals.
He said the previous government had organised Bengal Global Business Summits while his administration had adopted a less extravagant approach.
Adhikari said several major industrial groups, including companies interested in foreign direct investment, were exploring opportunities in the state.
The government had already allotted land to 33 entities and would provide land to other eligible investors after examining their proposals, he said.
The Chief Minister said private investment in healthcare, education and skill development was also being encouraged. Several agreements, including those involving IITs and the Adani Group, were under consideration, he added.
On education, Adhikari said the government would await the recommendations of the syllabus committee before deciding whether to restore the pass-fail system.
He said the National Education Policy had already been implemented and the education department would take an appropriate decision.
However, expressing his personal preference, Adhikari said mobile phones should be prohibited in schools, the pass-fail system restored and students taught the history of Bengal and India alongside modern languages.