India
She spoke to DNA while on a visit to Mumbai, during which she met up with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, and his son Aditya; as well as Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani.
Updated : Nov 03, 2017, 07:47 AM IST
Amidst the Opposition's move to put up a united front against the BJP, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee says she does not mind taking up responsibility in Delhi as 'Didi of the Nation'. She spoke to DNA while on a visit to Mumbai, during which she met up with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, and his son Aditya; as well as Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani. Mamata was in the city to drum up investment in her state and invite city-based business people to attend the West Bengal's Global Business Summit in January.
"I was an MP for 23 years and have also served as a minister in the cabinet," said the president of the Trinamool Congress. "Delhi is very close to me; it is also not that far physically but there are far too many traffic jams and the weather is too harsh. But the politics is totally run by outsiders, not insiders."
Mamata also interacted with young professionals from YPO (formerly known as the Young Presidents' Organization) in the city on Wednesday. And though she hinted at a readiness to move to the Capital, she would not be pinned down.
"I cannot tell you right now what the future will be for me," she said. "As an MP, I have established contacts with each and every leader across the country. I have best of relations with leaders from various states.'' She emphasized that her current priority was to increase the pace of development and transform West Bengal.
"These are crucial times," she said, referring to demonitization and the introduction of Goods & Services Tax. "People are facing a lot of difficulties; the unorganized sector has suffered the most. Young people are losing jobs as the industry sails through rough weather. If this situation continues, it will be time for the government to come to a decision and provide much-needed relief to the people."
The West bengal CM clarified that she was not against any particular leader or party, but was merely raising issues faced by citizens. While speaking to young professionals, she emphasized on how the state had grown economically and in infrastructure during her six-year-rule. She said the state had transformed completely, and for the better. "We have restored the work culture," she said. "During 34 years of CP(M)-rule, the state lost 78 lakh man-days; this has now reduced to zero." She says this was the result of a series of reforms that set the ball rolling
"The state's GDP stands as at 12.5%, as against the national GDP of 7.1%," she said. "We are at the top when it comes to skill-development. The government is implementing pro-development policies that have helped spur the growth of agriculture, industry, and MSMEs. Enough attention is being paid to upgrading of infrastructure and you can see results on ground."
She informed that the government has been providing rice at Rs 2 per kg to 8.50 crore of the total population of 9.10 crore. "Besides, scholarship is given to students up to university level," she said. "This is despite the government having to shell out over Rs 40,000 crore annually towards debt repayment and interest payment. This is the legacy we have inherited from the CP(M) government."