Kolkata traders oppose ‘bandh culture’

The chambers have called for creation of a joint forum in which all stakeholders in the development of the state can participate to boldly chalk out a sensitisation programme against all such bandhs and strikes.

The statement highlighted that the bandhs lead to loss of hundreds of crores besides an intangible loss of image and discouragement to potential investors of the state.

“It goes without saying that the bandhs are detrimental to the business and economic activities in the state. It demotes the reputation of the state among the domestic and the International business community,” said Sanjay Budhia, vice president of the Indian Chamber of Commerce. “Such a practice should be done away with, irrespective of the political party that calls a bandh,” he said.

“We are turning the clock back and fuelling negative perceptions that will unarguably slow down the current growth momentum and choke immediate and future investment prospects,” said the statement.

The statement was signed by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Bengal National Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Indian Chamber of Commerce, the Bharat Chamber of Commerce, Calcutta Chamber of Commerce, the Confederation of Indian Industry’s eastern region office, Merchants Chamber of Commerce and Oriental Chamber of Commerce.

The chambers cited a recent study that pointed out how bandhs and strikes not only lead to a tangible loss of hundreds of crores of rupees a day, but an equally massive intangible loss by way of damage to the state’s image and negative signals to potential investors.