Suvendu government announces rapid policy moves in first week in Bengal
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The new BJP government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has rolled out a series of major administrative and policy decisions within its first week in power in West Bengal, focusing on border fencing, law and order, welfare reforms, and administrative action.
One of the government’s first major actions came after a fire at a leather factory in Kolkata’s Tiljala area on May 12 that killed two workers and injured five others. Within a day, bulldozers were deployed to demolish the building after the government declared it illegally constructed.
On Friday, Adhikari announced the suspension of former Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal and former deputy commissioners Abhishek Gupta and Indira Mukherjee over mishandling of the R G Kar rape-murder case.
At its first Cabinet meeting on May 11, the government decided to hand over land to the Border Security Force for completing fencing along the Bangladesh border within 45 days. It also said people removed from electoral rolls during the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision exercise would not receive government scheme benefits.
The Cabinet increased the upper age limit for government job applications by five years and approved the implementation of several central schemes, including Ayushman Bharat.
The government also issued new rules banning animal slaughter in public places and making “fit to slaughter” certificates mandatory. Fresh guidelines were introduced to regulate loudspeaker volumes at religious places and prevent regular religious gatherings from blocking roads.
Police have been directed to review all cases linked to the 2021 post-poll violence and reopen investigations where lapses are found. A statewide crackdown on illegal arms and explosives has also been ordered.
The opposition criticised several of the moves.
Mamata Banerjee approached the Calcutta High Court over attacks on TMC workers following the election results. CPI(M) leader Md Salim questioned the government’s demolition drive and called for proper compensation and accountability. ISF MLA Naushad Siddiqui also criticised the Tiljala demolition, saying property owners should have been allowed to present documents before action was taken.