Sahara sponsored Indian cricket team. Will you blame cricketers for Sahara`s activities?: WB CM`s exclusive interview. September 12, 2014 Q. Three years have passed since you came to power. How has the transition from Opposition to administration been? Didi: We had to build everything from scratch. When we came to power, we had a negative treasury. We have inherited a debt of Rs 2 lakh crore. We kept increasing our revenue from 2011. Our revenue is now Rs 39,600 crore. But each year, even the installment of debt repayment has increased. I am citing some facts and figures. Anyone can crosscheck them. Indias GDP growth is 4.9%. Despite our financial burden, Bengals GSDP growth is 7.71%. We have achieved this goal. Agriculture growth for India is 4.6% while that of Bengal is 5.28%. In industrial production, growth rate of India is 0.7% while that of Bengal is 9.58%. Service sector growth for India is 5.9% while for Bengal it is 7.8%. Those who are criticising us, should feel proud for the progress made by the State. Those who want to pursue malicious propaganda, will keep doing so. Let them do that. We will only work for the development of Bengal. Some people over-hype Gujarat, whereas they live in Bengal. They cannot see the good happening here. We have started Kanyashree scheme for women empowerment, Yuvashree scheme for the unemployed youth. We are honouring farmers with Krishi Ratna awards. We have distributed record number of Kisan credit cards. We generated jobs for fishermen. Bengal is now the model for India. Jangalmahal and the Hills were burning. Now peace prevails there. Political violence has come down manifold. We have not forgotten Keshpur, Netai, Nandigram, Singur... Q: What would you list as your major achievements in these three years? Didi: Bengal is No. 1 in 100 Days Work Scheme. Kanyashree is now a global model. Under the scheme, we have registered 16 lakh girls and transferred funds to their accounts. We are No. 1 in skill development. The youth in Bengal are talented. There were only 38 colleges in Bengal till 2011. We have set up 31 colleges in last 3 years. During Left Front rule, only 1 university was formed. We set up 8 new universities in 3 years. We are starting ITIs in every block and polytechnic colleges in every sub-division. We are developing tourism. A wax museum is coming up in Rajarhat. We will set up a Safari Park in North Bengal on the lines of Singapore. We have developed Gazaldoba. Several initiatives are being taken. Q: You are the first CM who has taken the Secretariat to the grassroots. How are you reaping the benefits? We conduct administrative meetings on a regular basis. From CMO to BDO, everyone attends these meetings. We have conducted 72 such meetings. We are a government of the people. People will not come to us, we have to go to them. We have formed an Administrative Calendar for monitoring developmental projects. We have also passed the Right to Service Act. We are here to serve the people. Q: You work at a very rapid pace. Sometimes your ministers cannot match your pace of work... Didi: No, I do not think that is true. Some people work fast and some people are slow. Our priority is to take the surge of development to all districts. Q: The metro projects in Kolkata are struck because of land issue. Centre says the State government is not cooperating Didi: This is not true. The East-West metro project was announced when I was not the Railway Minister. The routes decided were impractical. To build the metro on the same route, we have to evict a lot of people, which is not possible. Q: You have been very proactive in wooing investors to the State. But there are hardly any new big industries in the State... Didi: This is absolutely wrong. When I was the Rail Minister, I allotted several big projects for Bengal. SAIL is setting up worlds second largest industry at Durgapur. They have invested Rs 20,000 crore. NTPC has set up thermal power plants at Katwa. We gave them land. DVC has invested for a 500 MW power plant in Raghunathpur. NHPC will set up 4 hydel power projects in Bengal. Those who are saying Bengal has no big projects, are lying. Industry is growing in the State. We have formed a land bank. We have land at Panagarh industrial park. There is land at Vidyasagar industrial park, Goaltore industry hub. Dalmia group has set up a world-class cement factory in the State. We have also started model city project. Several cities like Siliguri, Bolpur will be included. We are developing the sea beaches; we are developing Jharkhali as a tourist destination. Coochbehar got a small runway. We have introduced helicopter facilities between Coochbehar, Durgapur and Kolkata. Changhi group has increased their stake at Andal airport. Bengal is a model now. Fair price diagnostic centres and fair price medicine shops are national models. Q: BJP completed 100 days in power at the Centre. How do you rate the 100 days? Didi: BJP came to power saying they will bring Achhe Din. But actually, rone wale din have arrived. They have brought FDI in Railways. I support PPP but not FDI in Railways. They have also hiked FDI in defence. The prices of fuel and other essential items are increasing. The Prime Minister is only spending on advertisements and PR. Q: What are your views on the Saradha scam and the Oppositions charges against you? When did the Saradha scam happen? When Left was in power. So many other chit fund scams happened during the Left Front rule - like Sanchayini and Sanchaita. The Congress, BJP and the Left are trying to protect the real culprits. Trinamool has not taken a penny from Saradha. The Opposition raises this issue only before elections. The people showered us with their blessings in Panchayat as well as Lok Sabha elections. The Oppositions tactics did not work. Who gave clearance to the media channels of Saradha? The Central government did. It is not our responsibility if a few puja committees took Saradhas sponsorship. Congress and BJP were in power in Centre, why did they not take any action. Some people, who indulge in politics of division and communalism, are saying I cheated 17 lakh people. What audacity is that? They do not know the real facts. 12 lakh people, not 17, were duped by Saradha. Moreover, after coming to power, we passed an anti-chit fund law. The Centre kept sitting on it. They suggested changes, we made the amendments. Why have they still not cleared it? We had the owner of Saradha arrested from Kashmir. We formed a Commission to return the money to the people. The Opposition is raising the issue of chit funds only ahead of elections. We even got our own MP arrested. Indian cricket, football teams are sponsored by scam-tainted Sahara, so can they be accused of taking illegally-earned money of Sahara? The media is engaging in smear campaign. They are peddling lies and malicious propaganda. They are not showing any facts. Q: But your partys image has taken a hit... It is not a big issue. The media is engaging in cheap lies and malicious propaganda. They are showing the State in bad light. When I went to Singapore, people were surprised that the media is saying such bad things about our Government. They were impressed with our growth. Our biggest judge is the people. I am answerable only to the people. They will decide Trinamools future. I listen to the voice of the people, not what media says. Q: Several people joined your party after 2011. Some say the new entrants are bringing your party a bad name... Didi: I do not think so. Those who believe in our ideology and want to become a part of Bengals progress are welcome. Every family has some bad elements. Does that mean entire family is bad? No. Even the media has some bad elements. We have more good people than bad. Q: What is your vision for future for your party? I have come to power to serve the people. This chair is a seat of thrones for me, not a bed of roses. I am proud that people of Bengal reposed their faith on me. I have come to this position after years of struggle. We are working day in and day out for the people, but a section of the media is not highlighting that. Some people have the crab mentality. They are trying to pull us back as we are taking Bengal forward. I appreciate criticism but not opposition for the sake of it. Biswa Bangla is my brand and I am working tirelessly for the people. I feel pained at the attitude of a section of the people who love to indulge in character-assassination. Q: Do you get irritated for after all this hard work? Didi: I like to work; I go to the people, so I am not tired by so much work. Government will go to people. If I dont go to the grassroots level, how would I understand what the situation is? I am blamed for my modest background and modest education. Is it my fault that I do not have English medium schooling? Q: Does politics tire you? Didi: We came to serve people. Crores are being spent by others for campaigns. We are poor, so we are talking about electoral reforms. I try to paint, write & sell them to run my party. The money goes to Jago Bangla. As per the accusations of others, should I stop painting and writing? How will I sustain my family and my Trinamool party? Q: A lot of complaints are emerging that your party workers are involved in syndicates... Didi: I am against syndicates. But I do not believe all syndicates are bad. Are all promoters bad? Are all labourers bad? I do not think so. The syndicate raj started during Left era. They corrupted the system. Q: The education sector in Bengal is passing through an alarming phase. What are your views on that? Didi: I have also been involved in student politics. Generations change and practices evolve over time. I believe that we must not highlight one of two bad incidents and paint everyone as bad. I would tell my students not to engage in malpractices. Teacher-student relationship is very pure. That must be preserved and the initiative must be taken from both sides. Q: Walking is your addiction... Didi: Laughs. I try to walk 10 km every day. I do this to keep healthy. Even writing is my passion. I also like musical instruments. I have an ektara... I love to walk. I increased treadmill exercise because after elections I became very weak. We will also go for trekking to Sandakphu. This keeps me fresh and healthy. We are going through a phase of mental pollution, because of the malicious propaganda going on in the State. Sometimes the brain needs respite. Q: Those who have followed you over the years, say that your health has deteriorated... Didi: I survive only on muri. I am working hard for the people of Bengal. Even if my health deteriorates further, I will work even harder to take the State to new heights of glory. Q: The festive season is approaching. What would be your message for the people of Bengal and India at large, for Durga Pujo? Didi: I have only one message. Celebrate the Durga Puja festival with full fervour, pray for peace. Worship the Goddess and stay healthy and fine. Shiuli phooler subas niye sharat elo chole, Khola mathe kaser phool hawar tale dole, Rongin aalo charpashete matiye dilo mon, Shuru holo Maa-er pujor sei subhokkhon.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 16:36:17 +0000