Two local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders of Bradhaman district were suspended on Saturday for allegedly trying to extort money from a leading industrial group.
Representatives of Shyam Group of Industries that runs a steel plant and a captive power plant at Jamuria in Bardhaman district alleged earlier this week that two Trinamool leaders - Alok Das and Chanchal Banerjee - allegedly tried to extort money from the senior officials of the company.
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In a complaint filed at a local police station, company officials had alleged that ‘life threats’ are being issued to its senior officials. Earlier, State Labour Minister Moloy Ghatak had denied the involvement of any Trinamool worker in the incident.
On her way back from north Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee without mentioning the incident at Jamuria, told journalists, “There are some small problems which will be resolved.” She also said that the State government was not kept in the loop about some land acquisition which has led to problems.
Without directly mentioning the local TMC leaders, the Trinamool chairperson said, “If anyone is at fault he will be punished. This did not happen during the Left Front era.”
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“I have personally investigated the matter. The manner in which it has been highlighted is one sided and an attempt to spread canards (against the government).”
IndustrialisationMeanwhile, she went on to project a bright picture of industrialisation in the State announcing that NASSCOM has offered to build the first-ever incubation centre for young and aspiring IT entrepreneurs in Kolkata.
Ms. Banerjee said in her post on a social networking site that the State government welcomes the proposal. She also said that the government has already offered 10,000 square feet of space for immediately setting up the centre with provision for another 10,000 sq.ft for future requirement.
Ms. Banerjee also said that Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), the apex body for export organisations, has acknowledged top 18 exporters from the engineering and manufacturing sector from eastern India, adding 16 are from Bengal, who have exported goods and services worth over Rs. 11,000 crore.
ExportsShe pointed out that the State exports were around Rs. 63,000 crore in 2013-14, of which nearly Rs. 32,000 crore is from the engineering and manufacturing sectors. “FIEO has announced doubling the target of exports from $10.5 billion now to $20 billion from Bengal over the next three to four years,” added Ms. Banerjee.