Bengal industries minister Shashi Panja on Friday requested investors to dissociate themselves from the ongoing political scenario and shed a certain perception built about the state.

“I want you to dissociate yourself from the ongoing political scenario because you are a businessman and come with the capital. The mandate says Mamata Banerjee’s government has been elected for the third time in 2021, which is the popular government,” the industries minister said at the annual day event of the Indian Chamber of Commerce, north Bengal chapter, in Siliguri on Friday.

“There will be much discussion with building of perception for not to invest here. But what I would like to tell you is to remove such a perception that is building to undermine the economic advancement of the state that is very unfortunate and what we are fighting against it. The state government is working as a facilitator and always ready to provide all cooperation,” she said.

Siliguri mayor Gautam Deb, who was present at the event, said that the northern part of Bengal was previously considered neglected but the chief minister, through her frequent visits to the region, has developed it as an emerging part of the state.

"She has improved its surface and air connectivity by providing more land, established super-speciality hospitals and medical colleges for healthcare facilities and set up universities and Hindi-medium colleges for the upgrade in education facilities," he said