The pullout of Haldia Bulk Terminals (HBT), the cargo handling company from Haldia port, has left a political slugfest in its wake. HBT pulled out its operations alleging security concerns of its employees. The Left parties in Bengal are now training their guns on the ruling Trinamool Congress government in the state and its chief Mamata Banerjee. The CPI(M) is accusing the state government of becoming party to inter corporate disputes, playing favourites and precipitating the end of economic activity in the state. The Left has also openly accused the TMC Lok Sabha MP Subhendu Adhikary of siding up with Ripley group, the other cargo handler at the port.
CPI(M)’s Nilotpal Basu speaking to Business Standard lashed out at its arch rival the ruling TMC. Basu said, “What we are witnessing in the state today is that which happens when the government becomes party to inter-corporate disputes; it begins the downslide of economic activity in the state.”
While Ripley group was handling eight of the 14 berths at the port, HBT was at the helm the only two mechanised berths at the port.
The Left parties have further attacked the state administration of turning a blind eye to the security of the HBT workers and the state police they allege dismissed the allegations of the company about their workers being kidnapped.
Basu argues that the “Trinamool has acted to protect the interest of the Ripley group” which is promoted by its own party MP. The clear beneficiary of the HBT pullout is Ripley group, says Basu without mincing his words.
“If there indeed was labour dispute, as claimed by the state government then the state government should have directed the Kolkata Port Trust to hold a tri-partite meeting and resolve the issue. Instead what the TMC did was to actively encourage plain thuggery forcing HBT to move out,” adds Basu.
This fact was reinforced after the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) itself wrote to the Union Shipping ministry urging it to intervene and stop the pullout. KoPT has reiterated that this would send out a “wrong message” to investors.
“Mamata Banerjee as chief minister, it was her responsibility to extend security to business interests when they had already voiced their concerns. But the state actively encouraged thuggery and forced the pull out of legitimate business interests,” says Basu.
CPI senior leader Gurudas Dasgupta was trenchant in his criticism. Speaking to Business Stnadard he said, “It sends the wrong message of non- performance of the administration. It won’t bring any benefit to the crisis ridden state of Bengal.”
TMC Lok Sabha MP Subhendu Adhikary despite repeated attempts could not be reached. The Ripley group informed Business Standard that they did not want to comment.
However Trinamool Congress MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar speaking to Business Standard termed as "baseless" the charges being levelled by the Left parties. "Let them (Left) prove it , if they can. We dare them to do so."
Dastidar added, "This entire issue has nothing to do with the state government. HBT suddenly realised that it wasn't lucrative and they wanted to pull out from Haldia, so now they are cooking up all these stories. We agree that law and order is under the jurisdiction of the state government but there is now law and order problem there. The problems occurred between the labour and the management and the state has nothing to do with it."
Trinamool Congress has however attempted to blunt the anti-industry charges being leveled against it.
West Bengal State Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee put across the party’s point of view on the party’s Facebook page.
Chatterjee stated that four companies, including ITC have expressed interest to invest in West Bengal. Fast food and a food processing unit and Balmer Lawrie on setting up an industrial hub in Hooghly district, Badrinarayan Alloys and Steels Ltd is interested in a Rs 500 crore, TMT bar and rolling mill will come up near Kulgachhia in Howrah district and Mohan Industrial Machines wants to invest to set up a unit to produce corrugated board sheet near Bagnan in Howrah district.
While the arch rivals Left and the TMC trade charges against each other, the industrial climate in Bengal continues to take a beating.
