Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday wrote an open letter to the people of West Bengal, outlining his vision for the state’s future and presenting what he described as an alternative model of development ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
In the letter, written in Bengali, the Prime Minister accused the current state administration of non-cooperation, corruption, and mismanagement, while highlighting the benefits of various central government schemes and infrastructure investments in Bengal. He greeted the people of the state and said that West Bengal was at a crucial juncture in deciding its future direction.
Without naming the ruling party or Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Modi described the state’s present condition as deeply concerning. “After independence, West Bengal was the economic leader of the country and a pioneer of industrialisation. But today, my heart aches to see this sick and dilapidated state of West Bengal. The irreparable damage that West Bengal has suffered due to mismanagement and appeasement politics over the past decades is indescribable,” he wrote.
The Prime Minister claimed that several welfare schemes launched by the Centre have directly benefited lakhs of people in the state. He cited initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, and the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme, stating that they have improved the lives of the poor, middle class, farmers, youth, and women.
Highlighting infrastructure development, Modi said the Centre has made significant investments in railways, roads, ports, power, and digital connectivity in West Bengal. He added that the state holds immense potential for industrial growth and employment generation if supported by a development-oriented environment.
The Prime Minister also addressed the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), describing it as a humanitarian measure aimed at granting citizenship with dignity to persecuted refugees. He assured that the implementation of the law would respect and preserve Bengal’s culture, language, and traditions.
Referring to the state’s political situation, Modi said West Bengal had lost several opportunities for progress due to conflict and obstructionist politics. He emphasised the need to move towards governance based on development, trust, and transparency, and called for collective efforts to build a “developed West Bengal.”
Concluding the letter, Modi appealed to the people to work together for the state’s progress, expressing confidence that West Bengal could once again emerge as a major driver of India’s economic growth if guided by good governance and a shared vision for development.
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