‘Bengal out of decadal slumber’

Bengal Leads Narayanan takes Mamata's investor pitch forward.

Governor M K Narayanan, who a few days ago had ruffled the feathers of the Trinamool Congress government over the incidents of political violence in the state, on Thursday took Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's investor-friendly pitch a step forward by urging industrialists to invest in Bengal which he said is waking up from three decades of deep slumber — a reference to the 34 years of Left rule.

Speaking at the concluding day of the three-day 'Bengal Leads' industrial summit in Haldia, Narayanan said: "Bengal has a stable government and is committed to removing the glitches developed over the past years. My message to you is, come and invest in Bengal which wakes up from a deep slumber. Reap the early bird benefits. Be a part of Bengal's and India's future and progress."

The Governor's indirect criticism of the previous Left Front government's policy towards industries, which was a jingle to the Trinamool leaders' ears, did not stop there. "The state had been stagnant for the past three decades. Its attempt for revival is taking place at a time when an overall decline in growth is taking place across the world. Bengal lost out when India was among the fastest growing economies of the world. The aim of Bengal Leads is to overcome this sense of pessimism,'' Narayanan said.

Stating that the present dispensation has embarked on a process of industrialisation at a very difficult time, he urged industrialists not to lose confidence. "You would recognise this by no means it is an easy task for a state that is emerging out of a long dark winter, when industrialisation had taken a backstage. This (industrialisation process at present), therefore, will lead to some hiccups but let not these hiccups lead to a loss of confidence," he added.

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