Rajnath Singh confident of Bengal's key role in India's development under CM Suvendu Adhikari

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh exuded confidence that West Bengal would play a "stellar role" in building a developed India under CM Suvendu Adhikari's leadership.

Addressing a press conference in Kolkata on Wednesday on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday, Singh credited the PM's leadership for the BJP forming its first government in West Bengal, and

praised Adhikari for his "performance so far".

Rajnath Singh backs Adhikari's leadership

"I have full faith that under the leadership of Suvendu Adhikari, West Bengal will play a stellar role in the making of a developed India. His performance so far is being discussed in other states of the country as well," Singh said, while Adhikari was seated beside him.

He also expressed confidence that India, particularly West Bengal, would emerge as one of the world's leading shipbuilding hubs.

Defence projects to boost shipbuilding

On August 23, the defence minister had laid the foundation stones for five projects worth nearly Rs 3,500 crore in West Bengal, being undertaken by defence PSUs Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd and Yantra India Limited.

Singh said the BJP government at the Centre was working towards preserving West Bengal's cultural heritage.

Rajnath Singh highlights Vande Mataram's Bengal connection

Referring to the singing of the national song Vande Mataram at the Red Fort on Independence Day, Singh said all six stanzas were sung for the first time on this August 15.

"This is a respect to West Bengal also," he said, referring to the song written by Bengali writer Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.