BJP yet to end extortion despite coming to power in Bengal, admits state chief

Despite coming to power in West Bengal, the BJP has not yet been entirely successful in eradicating the culture of extortion, the saffron party's state president Samik Bhattacharya admitted on Saturday (August 1), while acknowledging the shortcomings within a section of his own party.

Bhattacharya said his party has been in power only for two months and not everything has changed since then.

Referring to the snowballing trend of hurling eggs at opposition leaders, he warned party workers, supporters, and newly inducted leaders against engaging in such practices, cautioning the 'new Sanatanis' that their "therapy" could soon change directions and the eggs could start getting aimed in no time at those responsible.

‘Not everything has changed’

Addressing the 'Udyami Samagam' event at the IIT Kharagpur Research Park in Rajarhat on the outskirts of Kolkata, Bhattacharya said that reversing the "trend of flight of capital from Bengal" could be a tightrope walk if his party fails to keep partisan politics out of the business sector.

Also read: Bengal heist: How BJP captured the state by hollowing out democracy

"Our government has come to power only two months ago. We have not been able to solve all problems. If I say on behalf of my party that we have been able to eradicate extortion from everywhere, then I will be making a false claim. There are deviations. People had become accustomed to passing through a system of making easy money through syndicates. Not everything has changed with the change in state power," Bhattacharya said.

Speaking about the BJP’s bid to arrest party hopping, he said, "Some joined the ruling party within four hours, others had dormant wishes that have now surfaced. We are trying to control such tendencies within the party. Our Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is also trying to apply strict brakes on such tendencies."

Bhattacharya said a section of workers within the party were trying to infiltrate all sectors – from education and health to business – with political flags.

‘Must keep partisan politics out’

Stating that there is a need to clean the business ecosystem of partisan politics, Bhattacharya said Bengal is standing at the cusp of breaking free from its chequered past with industry.

"We must keep partisan politics out of this system. We have become residents of a political society in West Bengal. We need freedom from it. Till such time Bengal is able to come out of the culture of infiltration of politics in every sphere of life, no government can bring about its effective change and attract investment," he said.

Also read: BJP sets Bengal agenda; embraces Bengali identity, re-strategises border security

"We are making an earnest effort to build a government for West Bengal and not a BJP government," he added.

‘Investment climate now fear-free’

He said the saffron party has achieved partial success in achieving that goal.

“We haven't been able to provide you with an error-free atmosphere, but we have largely been able to deliver an investment climate that is fear-free. To set up a company, you can now buy your own brick, cement and sand. If someone approaches you, use the phone. He will either leave your premises or find himself inside lock up,” he said.

Bhattacharya said the BJP government in Bengal is one that has "stepped into its adolescence", and said the business community needed to point out errors directly and register their protests, if required.

Also read: From Basu’s warning to Bengal ballot: How Bangladesh turmoil fuelled BJP’s eastern rise

"No system can function or be made to live for long by quashing protests. All autocracies across the world inevitably fall. If someone from our side sports a body language of having 207 MLAs and hits the road, then the consequence will be disastrous," he said.

Word of caution

Bhattacharya said the hurling of eggs, a widespread form of protest seen in Bengal against the TMC leaders since the party lost power, can also come to haunt BJP leaders if they are in the wrong,

"The unwarranted egg-therapy we see now can turn on its head and start falling on the other side as well. All, including those in my party, must understand that. Those Sanatanis who have suddenly found a place in our party and are harbouring aspirations for influence and advantage must also remain careful because the trajectory of those eggs can change in no time," he added.

Also read: The unmaking of the Bengali bhadralok is a shift in power, not culture

Referring to the Adhikari government's move to scrap the Urban Land Ceiling Act to unlock developable land and attract large-scale industrial and real estate investments, Bhattacharya revealed the state's plans in its run-up to finalising the new industrial policy.

"Within the next few weeks, the government will sit in a meeting with the investors in this state, those who have set up start-ups, professors in different universities and our industrialists before drawing up our new industrial policy," he said.