West Bengal Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta has admitted that extortion continues to plague the state even after the transition to a new political administration. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Dasgupta described the practice as a deeply entrenched habit and a disturbing reality that demands urgent intervention.
According to PTI, the minister stated that public confidence in the administration cannot be fully restored until extortion is eradicated at the ground level. He appealed for patience, suggesting that the newly formed BJP government, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, be given one year to systematically eliminate these networks across West Bengal.
These admissions follow a warning issued by BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya, who cautioned party cadres against lawlessness, misconduct, or high-handedness in the name of the ruling organization.
Dasgupta further explained that solving the problem requires more than just law enforcement. He asserted that a combination of decisive political will and targeted economic measures is necessary to curb the informal syndicates that target citizens and local businesses.
