Focus on north Bengal, CM promises to ‘repay debts’ to people of the region

Siliguri/Kolkata: CM Suvendu Adhikari, who made his maiden visit to north Bengal since the formation of the new govt on Wednesday, said that state govt would "repay its debts" to the region's people who have supported BJP over more than a decade. Adhikari, who held an administrative review meeting at north Bengal secretariat Uttarkanya, said that the state cabinet would hold at least one meeting in north Bengal every month."Whatever has been promised in BJP's manifesto will be fulfilled. We will repay the debt to the people of north Bengal through development works," Adhikari said as he entered the party office in Siliguri on Wednesday morning. "Govt will hold a meeting in north Bengal every month. The north Bengal development minister will be here for a day every week," he said while addressing party workers.Adhikari reiterated BJP's poll promise that there would soon be an IIT, an IIM, an AIIMS and a dedicated cancer hospital in four different north Bengal districts. He asked DMs to coordinate planning for major Centre-state initiatives, ensuring development is not restricted to a single city.Promising people-centric governance, the CM said, "State govt will run with suggestions of the people. People can send their suggestions to karyakartas along with names and phone numbers. They will forward the suggestions to me and my office will give a feedback." "There will be no cut money or syndicate raj in the state. Changes can be seen on the ground already," he added.Hinting at an inclusive governance model cutting across party lines, Adhikari said, "BJP MLAs like Dilip Ghosh and Manoj Tigga were never asked to participate in the administrative meetings earlier. We will ask MLAs, irrespective of their political affiliations, to take part in the administrative meetings now. Development meetings have to be held at BDO and SDO levels." According to sources, Sitai's TMC MLA Sangita Roy was invited to Wednesday's meeting but she did not turn up.During the meeting, extensive discussions were held regarding the devastating flash floods and landslides of 2023 and 2025. The CM directed officials to take urgent precautionary measures ahead of the monsoon season, particularly in the Hills and the Dooars. Issues related to tea garden were also discussed and officials were instructed to work on long-pending problems faced by tea workers, including minimum wages and labour welfare concerns. Allegations of corruption within the GTA and the issue of illegal riverbed mining were also discussed, said soirces.Soon after landing at Bagdogra Airport, Adhikari delivered a strong message on law and order. Issuing a stern warning, he said, "those who think they can continue committing crimes and escape punishment like before are living in a fool's paradise. The administration is being made completely free from political influence. Whoever breaks the law, irrespective of identity or political affiliation, will have to go to jail."Alleging that north Bengal had suffered neglect for a long time, the CM said that coordination between the north Bengal development department and Centre would be strengthened to ensure faster implementation of development projects.