West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh on Tuesday said that antisocial elements had enjoyed complete dominance in Bengal for a long time and asserted that the government would enact whatever laws were required to eradicate such activities.
Speaking to reporters, Ghosh said, "In Bengal, antisocial elements had complete dominance for a long time. All these people, in collusion with political forces, have severely troubled the general public here. Terms like 'Tolabaji', 'Syndicate' and 'Cut-money' are heard exclusively in Bengal. Because of this, industries and businesses here have suffered, and the public is distressed.
"To completely eradicate this, the government will enact whatever laws are required. The administration needs to tighten law and order, and that process has begun. Even police personnel will not be spared; they are also being held accountable. This crime culture must be stopped at all costs, and the government is making all necessary preparations for it."
On the New Education Policy, Ghosh said that there had been a debate since Independence over the direction Indian education should take and how people could be educated in a truly Indian context.
"Many discussions took place, but no one implemented it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought the New Education Policy into effect after extensive discussions, seminars and gathering opinions from people before presenting it. It is now being implemented step-by-step across states. Once fully implemented, society will reap its benefits, though it will take some time," he said.
On the internal differences within the Trinamool Congress, Ghosh said his party did not want to interfere in the affairs of the ruling party.
"Whether old, new, good or bad, we don't want to get into the internal matters of the Trinamool Congress. They should take their issues to the Election Commission and resolve them. The Commission is looking into it," he said.
Meanwhile, the rebel Trinamool Congress faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee on Monday named candidates for the bypolls to two Assembly seats in West Bengal, taking its electoral battle with the Mamata Banerjee-led camp to the next level, while asserting that it will contest under the official party name and symbol. The EC is yet to decide on the claims of rival groups.
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