West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi on Friday praised the Mamata Banerjee government for being able to cope with the challenges of demonetisation and "hasty" implementation of the GST "thrust upon" by the Centre.
In his address to the Assembly on the first day of the Budget Session, Tripathi said state government never for once faltered from the track of the development process that encompassed every person from all walks of life.
He also praised the government for keeping a "steady vigil" to ensure communal harmony, and said the overall atmosphere remained peaceful.
"The state government was able to cope with the twin challenges of demonetisation and hasty enforcement of GST thrust upon by the central government," he said.
He said there were attempts to disturb peace in the Darjeeling hills which were strongly dealt with.
Tripathi said the state government was committed to safeguarding the democratic and federal structure of the Constitution.
Noting that the country was standing at the "crossroads of history", the governor said, "regardless of the ominous forces of divisiveness, intolerance and contempt, the West Bengal government will strive to protect the triple pillars of democracy (the legislature, executive and judiciary)."