In an apparent counter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Singur on January 18, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday inaugurated or laid the foundation stone for 1,694 projects, worth Rs 33,551 crore, under the state government.
Attacking the BJP during her speech in Singur, Banerjee said, “Many people give big promises but do not keep them. My principle is that I would rather die (than not keep my word). I keep promises 100 per cent. I don’t do jumla. We are not a dual-engine government. We are the government of ma-mati-manush.”
Banerjee also inaugurated the Ghatal Master Plan which aims to curb the devastating floods that hit the region every year. Speaking on the occasion, actor-turned-MP Dipak Adhikari (Dev), who represents the Ghatal constituency, said he had been fighting for the master plan for 10 years. “Nobody kept their word. Only one person did and that is Mamata Banerjee. I thank didi on behalf of the people of Ghatal,” he said.
“Today is the age of social media. Trolling starts as soon as something is said. Earlier, I said that Trinamool will win 250 seats and a lot of trolling started. But you say, it is normal for people to have trust in a government that promises development and implements it,” Adhikari added.
Mamata said the MP repeatedly contacted her over the matter over the years. “I have run to Ghatal many times during floods. DVC (Damodar Valley Corporation) water flooded Ghatal every year. I have been writing to the Centre for 10 years. They always fooled us. Now, we have fooled them and sanctioned money for the Ghatal Master Plan. Work worth Rs 500 crore has already been done. More work worth Rs 1,000 crore will be completed very soon,” she stated.
The chief minister said that by 2027, the height of river dams will be increased by about 50 metres, and canals and rivers will be dug up to 50 km. Besides, two pump houses, three regulators, a bridge extension and 104 new bridges will be built by the Irrigation and Water Resources Department.
Banerjee announced that 32 lakh houses will be built under the Banglar Bari housing scheme over the next two months. “One crore homes have already been built. A few days ago, I gave 12 lakh houses. Delhi has not paid a single rupee… When the money comes in, they will lay the bricks for the house. I don’t want anyone to suffer. Let everyone have a roof over their heads,” she said.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo also laid the foundation stone for the warehouse project in Singur. “Thousands of people will get jobs at this warehouse. We developed Furfura Sharif, Jairambati, and Kamarpukur in this same Hooghly district,” she stated.
Banerjee criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for refusing to give ‘classical status’ to the Bengali language. “I sent five sacks of books to Delhi. You have not given the status of classical language to Bengali. We have demanded. I created a research team. You kill people if anybody speaks Bengali,” she said.
Targeting the BJP over the issue of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, she said that they will fight it in court if necessary. “They are showing arrogance. I will crush all. Just stay by me. Stay healthy,” the chief minister added.