KOLKATA: Praising the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government, union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said a lot of work in the road sector has been done in the state and a lot of problems solved.
“There are problems in West Bengal. A lot of work has been done in the state in the road sector and a lot of problems solved. The problems are with bankers and contractors,” Mr Gadkari said when asked about the state’s problems with land acquisition for the development of national highways.
Asked how the Centre will engage the state government to acquire land, he said: “I had a good discussion with her when I met her the last time. We have a good cooperation with didi (Mamata Banerjee) and the state government. I have no grievances against her.”
Land acquisition has been considered a major hindrance for developing of national highways.
Mr Gadkari’s praise of Ms Banerjee came on a day the state’s opposition Left Front accused the chief minister of silence over diesel price hike as she did not want to antagonise the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre.
“Rise in diesel price will affect the public as prices of both goods and services will rise. But the state government has maintained silence since the chief minister does not want to antagonise the central government.”
With a number of BJP ministers at the Centre praising Ms Banerjee over the past couple of years, the Left Front and the Congress tried to make the alleged bonhomie between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ms Banerjee an assembly poll issue.
However, the union government maintained it believed in upholding the federal spirit wherein there is cooperation between the Centre and the states on issues of governance, irrrespective of political differences.
IANS