Kolkata : Congress and BJP on Saturday questioned the utility of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s six-day London trip beginning Sunday to woo investors. Her political opposition also expressed doubts whether the much-hyped trip would have a positive outcome for the state.
“She (Banerjee) has already said that even if the trip was 30 per cent fruitful, it could be termed as a grand success. The Chief Minister herself is doubtful about the outcome. What will she do there (in London). What are her plans? How will she woo the British industrialists to invest in West Bengal,” WBPCC president Adhir Chowdhury told reporters here on Saturday.
Union Minister of State for Urban Development, Housing, Babul Supriyo said, “What is the utility of Mamata Banerjee’s London visit? How will West Bengal benefit from her London visit?” Banerjee, accompanied by delegation of bureaucrats, MPs and businessmen, would seek increased business ties between UK and West Bengal and also investments into her state.
Supriyo said: “It is also a clear misuse of money. The fact is so much money is being spent on foreign trips, then why the state government is not paying the balance DA to its employees.” Banerjee’s trip to London was finalised following an invitation of British Prime Minister David Cameron.
Her six-day visit during which she will seek to project West Bengal as a destination for investment, would begin with a conference of British CEOs at the UK India Business Council meet on July 27. Earlier she visited Singapore also.
