Gadkari holds up on FDI kitty, says ‘jhanda politics will scare firms away’

The Union minister continued on his “apprehensions” and suggested that “the mindset of Bengal and Kerala needs to be changed”. “We can bring several development projects here. But a positive mindset is needed. I have doubts in my mind. I was thinking of bringing three foreign investors in the transport sector. But if people hold jhandas here, the investors would get scared and run away.”

The “change of mindset”, Gadkari claims, is required to build “a pro-development atmosphere here”. “There should be developmental projects in which labourers and employees are not exploited. We want to bring pro-development investment here. If capital investment does not come, employment cannot be generated, which means poverty also cannot be eradicated. So, the first thing we need is a pro-development atmosphere,” he said.

The minister also informed that he has put before Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee a “proposal” that furthers her eco-tourism drive that the latter has taken up in the state.

According to the proposal, the Kolkata Port Trust would deposit its silt at Nayachar island in East Midnapore district while simultaneously projecting the island as a tourism spot. “The port would also benefit in this way and the state will get its eco-tourism hub. The Chief Minister told me she would verify and check if any environmental clearance is needed for the project,” Gadkari added.

A senior Port official said the KoPT had submitted a proposal to the state government in this regard a week ago. Verification regarding the availability of land and rules pertaining to the coastal region will be carried out, he said.