Bengal Assembly Session: Governor CV Ananda Bose Commends Mamata Banerjee's Visionary Leadership and Achievements

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose praised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as a visionary leader, highlighting the achievements of the state government over the past year. During his address at the budget session's opening, he lauded the success of the Bengal Global Business Summit. Bose expressed confidence that proposed investments would enhance economic activity and create jobs for Bengal's youth.

Bose emphasised that law and order in West Bengal had remained peaceful over the past year. He noted that 212 agreements and letters of intent were signed during the business summit, with investment proposals amounting to Rs 4,40,595 crore. These investments are expected to boost economic activities and generate employment opportunities for young people in the state.

Economic Growth and Development

The governor highlighted West Bengal's progress under Mamata Banerjee's leadership over 13 years. The state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) increased from Rs 4.61 lakh crore in 2010-11 to Rs 18.15 lakh crore in 2024-25. He also stated that West Bengal leads in sectors like micro, small, and medium enterprises and skill development.

Bose commended the state government for allocating one-third of its total expenditure to women's development and empowerment. He praised initiatives such as Kanyashree, Lakshmir Bhandar, and Rupasree, which are part of various social security schemes aimed at supporting women.

Social Initiatives and Challenges

The governor mentioned efforts to support minority communities through education, madrasa modernisation, employment generation, skill development, and sustainable livelihoods. Despite financial constraints and lack of central funds, the state remains committed to employment generation and rural housing through schemes like Karmashree and Banglar Bari Gramin.

During Bose's speech on law and order and women's security, opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari protested. Adhikari claimed that the state government was renaming central schemes like PM's Jal Jeevan Mission as their own. BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul also raised concerns about women's safety, citing recent incidents.

Opposition Reactions

Adhikari criticised the governor for not addressing certain issues during his speech. "The Governor said that police did a commendable job by maintaining law and order during Durga puja in October last year," he remarked. However, he noted that there was no mention of recent challenges faced during Saraswati Puja or other incidents affecting women's safety.

Paul echoed these sentiments by pointing out omissions in Bose's address regarding significant cases like the RG Kar rape and murder case. She also highlighted the lack of mention of the Ajarajita Bill passed in September aimed at combating rape and child abuse.

Sources from Raj Bhavan indicated that changes were made to the first draft of Bose's speech prepared by the state government due to disagreements on several points. Despite these challenges, Bose's address focused on celebrating West Bengal's achievements while acknowledging areas needing attention.