Mamata Banerjee woos captains of industry at Bengal global business summit

Kolkata: Ahead of assembly polls in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday invited investors saying her state has a peaceful atmosphere conducive for setting up industries and there was no communal tension.

Compliments were showered on her government at the third edition of Bengal Global Business Summit here from captains of industry as well as ministers of the Narendra Modi government.

Lauding her government, Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani said, "As an investor, I stand here to say that West Bengal is among the top of the list in terms of doing business and recommend the state as an ideal investment destination."

His statement in the presence of Banerjee and several other industrialists came as a shot in the arm to the TMC government battling to develop an industry-friendly image ahead of the state polls, slated for later this year.

Banerjee in her turn told a galaxy of industrialists, "Our government will work as your worker."

Slamming her detractors, she said, "Some people are saying that there has been no investment. It is not true. Projects worth Rs 94,000 crore investment have already taken off. Some of the projects we had signed have already started.

"We have already set up a core group for industries. Our elections are coming, but don't worry everything will be sorted out. Democracy will continue. This elected government will return."

Speaking of the law-and-order situation, she said, "Bengal is a peaceful state where we all work together. There is no such communal incident or tension. Somebody might criticise it politically. We don't allow all this."

Her comments came against the backdrop of the violence that broke out at Kaliachak in Malda, which had prompted the union home ministry to seek a report from the state government.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, "Summits of this kind held every year clearly demonstrates the intention that the need of the hour is to generate growth, increase revenue and fight poverty for which investments are required."

"It is in this context that West Bengal that has lost its glory of the past could be restored and I assure you that the Centre will give all its support to the state's endeavour to attract investments," he said.