Mamata govt unmoved by firm’s exit

Commerce and Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee was defiant on the impact that it would have on the state’s investment climate by asking: “Was there any agreement between the state government and ABG?” when asked to comment on the incident.

The minister became furious when asked by reporters if there was any law and order problem in Haldia. “You go to port and ask the port authorities why ABG has pulled out,” an angry Chatterjee said.

“Is it the responsibility of the press to look after law and order issue? Law and order is the subject matter of the state government. We will answer (to the questions) when such an issue comes to the state government. It’s not the newspapers,but we who look after the law and order,” Chatterjee said.

He also said that the Haldia dock was an issue to those who have “taken money from ABG”. However,he did not elaborate on who had taken monetary favour,if any,from the cargo handlers.

Discounting that ABG’s exit from West Bengal on the law and order issue would send a wrong message to the investors,Chatterjee said: “We are very much aware about the industry community. Except some journalists,everyone is quite confident that we are moving towards right direction.”

Chatterjee’s remarks echo what Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said on Tuesday. She too had denied any law and order trouble at Haldia and told reporters that nothing has taken place in the port city.

Haldia strongman and Trinamool MP Suvendu Adhikari,too,accused the media of maligning the image of the state government. He called the abduction incident as “fabricated”.