West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Sunday claimed that the state's economic growth has actually come down in the last two years, and accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of misleading the people about development."Contrary to Banerjee's claims, Bengal's economic growth has actually come down. From the 16.76 percent in 2011-12 it came down to 15.23 in 2012-13 and 14.14 percent in 2013-14. Other states have left behind Bengal in terms of GSDP," Chowdhury told media persons here.Chowdhury claimed that since the Trinamool Congress came to power in 2011, "fifty-one manufacturing units, 22 jute mills and 26 tea estates have closed down in the state leaving 1.33 people jobless".
"According to the state government's own Economic Survey Report, only 28 industrial units were set up in 2011-12 generating 3,841 jobs, and 12 units were set up in 2012-13 at an investment of Rs.312 crore generating just 2,052 jobs."I want to tell the chief minister that not only are her claims false but she has been lying and misleading the people of Bengal."I would urge her and her finance minister to go through their own records before coming out and making false claims," he said.Banerjee has repeatedly claimed that her state was No.1 in several economic parameters, asserting that "Bengal's GSDP and growth in the industrial sector was more than national average".Chowdhury also attacked the Banerjee administration over the encephalitis-related deaths, and demanded adequate compensation for the kin of the deceased. The disease has so far claimed over 200 lives.
The Lok Sabha member from Baharampur also accused the Trinamool government of distorting history over school textbooks describing as "terrorism" the revolutionary acts of freedom fighters like Khudiram Bose, Prafulla Chaki and others."We have already informed the governor about how this government has distorted history and insulted our revolutionaries. I warn the education department to immediately rectify this and not mislead the future generations of the country by serving them distorted history," Chowdhury added.