Maharastra ahead of Bengal in number of closed factories: Biman

Kolkata, Apr 21 (UNI) Rejecting Congress president Sonia Gandhi's allegation, CPI(M) state secretary and politburo member Biman Bose today said Maharashtra is ahead of West Bengal in respect of numbers of closed factories.

Addressing newspersons Mr Bose alleged that at least 6.5 lakh factories had been closed down throughout the country and maxium in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

During an election rally yesterday, Ms Gandhi reportedly said, that more than 65,000 factories had been closed down in Bengal and the state was bearing a Rs 90,000 crore debt burden.'' ''The Centre is giving 7 per cent interest in the smallsaving schemes while taking 11 per cent loan interest from the state. They are engaged in moneylending business in the country,'' he said.

Mr Bose described the clash between Congress and Forward Bloc supporters at Kamalpur area of Birbhum district as ''unfortunate''.

He also appealed to the party workers and the people to maintain the tradition of peaceful, free and fair elections in the state.

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