Central minister warns against hurdles to Central projects in Bengal

Union minister of state for home affairs Nityanand Rai on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the West Bengal government, alleging that the state Budget was anti-development and detrimental to the future of the youth.

Addressing reporters at the BJP party office in Siliguri, Rai said the Budget presented by the Mamata Banerjee-led government would neither contribute to the development of West Bengal nor aid the country’s overall progress. “The Budget has been designed in a way that pushes the future of the youth into darkness,” he said, describing the state government as “oppressive”.

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The Union minister further alleged that the state Budget was aimed at supporting infiltrators rather than promoting genuine development, and claimed that such policies had put the West Bengal government in political trouble. “Alarm bells have started ringing for the state government,” Rai remarked.

Drawing a contrast, Rai said the Union Budget had been framed with the long-term vision of India@2047, focusing on inclusive development of both the country and West Bengal. He highlighted several key proposals announced in the Union Budget, including the Siliguri-Varanasi high-speed rail project.

Rai also referred to a proposed 40-km underground rail connectivity from the strategically important Chicken’s Neck area in Siliguri, stating that such infrastructure projects would play a crucial role in the region’s growth.

He said that if such a government continues in West Bengal, it may create obstacles in the implementation of central projects, and asserted that cooperation was essential to ensure the state’s full development in the coming years.