After completing a six-day London visit, the West Bengal Chief Minister is returning to Kolkata on Saturday. During her visit, CM Mamata Banerjee raised some issues concerning her state. On the other hand, she faced criticism and protests as well. Here are the key takeaways.
According to the West Bengal government, it saw immense success in the Bengal Global Business Summit which was organised last February. Only a month later, Banerjee had the opportunity to invite industry leaders from Britain to invest in West Bengal, while addressing an interactive session as part of a business meet jointly organised by the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in London.
A senior official of the delegation said, “We got some business proposals from British business houses, and also signed some MOUs. If this process and following up will continue, no doubt we will see immense success in our industrialisation process.”
In her speech at Oxford University, the Chief Minister elaborately explained her social welfare programmes, specifically for the women and backward classes. She explained how projects like the Kanyashree and Lakshmir Bhandar schemes became “popular” in her state.
During her speech, Banerjee also had to face some protests by some students of Oxford. They questioned her on issues like the R G Kar rape and murder case, the Singur issue, and a recent incident at Jadavpur University where state education minister Bratya Basu’s convoy allegedly collided with a student during protests.
Some of the audience was seen to protest with placards and question her stance on communal issues. Banerjee said on the R G Kar issue, “Do you know that this case is pending? The responsibility of investigating this case is now in the hands of the Central government, the case is no longer in our hands.” She said, “Don’t disrespect your institution by insulting me. I have come here as a representative of the country. Don’t insult your country.”
Banerjee, during her speech at Oxford’s Kellogg College, urged the University to set up a campus in Kolkata. She said that the students of West Bengal are “very intelligent” and ready to study at such a campus, assuring the authorities of Oxford that the State can “arrange land in an hour” for it.
At the BGBS, Banerjee had pitched direct flights from Kolkata to London to the British delegation. During her six-day London tour, she made this demand almost everyday to businessmen, even representatives of the British Airways, at meetings. Banerjee said, “London is not far away from Kolkata. We need a direct flight from London. I came to London from Kolkata, spending 18 hours… (A direct flight) will be a great success for the West Bengal government.”