“No one will have to pay to set up a factory”: Samik Bhattacharya assures Bengal investors

Samik Bhattacharya on Tuesday urged industrialists to invest in West Bengal and assured that the new government would create a business-friendly environment without political interference. Speaking at an event organised by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata, the West Bengal BJP president stated that a transparent land policy was essential for industrial growth and claimed the present government would ensure industrialists receive land free from legal complications.

Addressing business representatives, Samik Bhattacharya alleged that industries failed to grow in Bengal during the previous 15 years because industrialists lacked administrative support and security. He claimed many business owners from Bengal had instead invested in states such as Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand due to what he described as an atmosphere of fear and political interference under the previous administration.

During his speech, Samik Bhattacharya stated that no political party would seek money from industrialists for setting up factories under the current government. He said the administration would not tolerate extortion or “cut money” practices linked to industrial projects. He also assured industrialists that the ruling party would not interfere in administrative functioning related to business and investment.

Samik Bhattacharya further stated that the government and the ruling party would function separately under the present administration. He said the previous distinction between the state government and the ruling political party had disappeared over the years and added that the new administration intended to restore that separation. He also appealed to industrialists to invest more heavily in Bengal and assured them of full cooperation from the government.

The BJP had repeatedly raised the issue of industrial decline in Bengal during the Assembly election campaign and accused the previous government of failing to attract investment to the state. Samik Bhattacharya’s remarks came as the new government continued administrative restructuring and governance-related meetings at Nabanna following the change of power in the state.