But Company Files Complaint, Suspends Work
Kolkata : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday dismissed reports that two officials of state-owned wagon-maker Burn Standard Company (BSC) were assaulted by agitating workers who allegedly owe allegiance to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
The opposition hit out at Banerjee for trying to downplay the incident and accused her of hurting the industrial scenario in the state, reports IANS.
“I have cross-checked thrice from various sources, there was no assault. Yes, there were heated arguments with the management after 175 workers were laid off. The workers have been agitating for some days and there was some heated debate, but no violence took place,” Banerjee told media persons here.
However, the central public sector undertaking has already filed a police complaint and declared suspension of work alleging assault on the two officials – Santanu Sarkar and Debashish Bhattacharya.
G.H. Nag, the BSC deputy general manager for personnel relations, said a complaint was lodged on Wednesday with the Howrah police station and a letter sent to the central government, informing it about the incident.
The alleged altercation took place on Wednesday as BSC officials went to broker peace with the agitating casual workers, affiliated
with TMC, who were demanding regularisation and other amenities since February 11.
Expressing displeasure over the retrenchment of 175 workers, Banerjee said that she has directed the state chief secretary to hold talks with company officials for a withdrawal of the suspension of work.
“If so many workers are laid off at once, naturally there would be agitation. But then both the parties must be lenient and try to resolve the matter,” she said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s state unit president Rahul Sinha said Banerjee’s comments will embolden criminals. “When the chief minister herself is coming to the aide of the attackers, then such incidents will keep recurring,” he said.
Echoing a similar view, Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Surjya Kanta Mishra wondered “if investors would be inclined to put their money in Bengal”.
