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While West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was in Delhi to press for financial help from the Centre, her Gujarat counterpart, Narendra Modi, was in her home turf.
Notably, the Gujarat chief minister, who was in Kolkata to address industrialists on an invitation from chambers of commerce, made a conscious effort to steer clear of any adverse comment about Banerjee. Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) support could be crucial for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the event of its forming a government at the Centre after the next Lok Sabha elections.
Modi blasted the former Left Front government in West Bengal for “creating only potholes” in their 34-year-rule.
“Gujarat’s development did not take place in a year or two. It took 10 years for me to repair the damages done by Congress. So, here, too, it will take time to fill these potholes. I am sure the current government is working towards that direction,” he said .
Modi also blasted the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. “There was hope during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s rule. But now everything is uncertain. Discrimination is being made by the Centre towards the non-UPA states. We need to raise a voice against the Centre’s discrimination. Gujarat perhaps has more strength to fight this discrimination. Because of decades of the Left’s misrule, Bengal perhaps does not have that much strength,” he said.
Modi was careful not to criticise the TMC. When an industrialist asked him about his suggestion to the Bengal government to improve the state's tourism sector, he said, “I am visiting the state as a student this time. I am here only to learn.”
Incidentally, BJP president Rajnath Singh, too, had recently said the Centre should provide a special package to West Bengal. Earlier, Banerjee had fuelled speculation when she said that TMC would get back the Railway ministry in the next Lok Sabha elections. According to political observers, her statement implied she could align either with the UPA or the NDA.
Apart from his effort to woo the TMC, Modi was seen taking a dig at West Bengal's strike-prone work culture, mostly sponsored by the Left parties.
“The way the presidents of three chambers (Indian Chamber of Commerce, MCC Chamber of Commerce and the Bharat Chamber of Commerce) have given me the task to set up the agenda, it will take me weeks. You will also have to shut your factory and sit here,” he said.
Although his address to city industrialists largely carried a political message for Banerjee, Modi also had a closed-door meeting with the representatives of the chambers. City industrialists lined up to shower lavish praise on the Gujarat CM.
“I am meeting him for the first time. And it is amazing to see he knows about my business. It was great to hear from him. He is a national leader. We would like him to govern the country,” said M K Jalan, chairman of city-based Keventer Group.
