Two-day 'bandh', loss of face for Bengal: Chambers

Kolkata, Dec 20 (UNI) Trinamool Congress-sponsored 48-hour 'bangla bandh' from tomorrow will not only badly affect the West Bengal's industrial growth but also force a revenue loss to the tune of about Rs 2,000 crore.

This was expressed here today by a combined platform of all the eight major Chambers of Commerce during a formal interaction with the media. Senior representatives of the chambers, speaking in unison, expressed total opposition to the recently-emerged 'bandh culture' of the State.

Presidents and other senior representatives of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BNCCI), the Bharat Chamber of Commerce (BCC), the Merchant Chamber of Commerce (MCC), the Calcutta Chamber and the Oriental Chamber said the State-based industries were not only fed up with the 'bandh culture' but apprehended that the recent turnaround in the investment scenario of the State would be hardly hit.

The recent spate of 'bandhs', including the next 48-hour strike within the last fortnight, had reminded the darkest days of the State's commercial history. Such retrogade steps now seem to be all set to cruely wipe out the positive image of West Bengal, which recently coincided with the State's regeneration programme, they said.

Terming the recent spate of 'bandh' ''signals the emergence of black days'', they said unless political leaders realised the gravity of the situation, it was bound to become worse.

Later speaking on behalf of different chambers, Mr Sanjay Budhia (ICC), Mr Mukul Somani (CII), Mr Santa Ghosh (BNCCI), Mr Santosh Saraf (MCC) and Mr Alok Mukherjee (BCCI) said, ''apart from financial losses to the tune of Rs 1000 crore per day during the 'bandh', it was more of a loss of face and investment opportunities in the wake of an internationally competitive industrial environment.'' They said though there was no plan of holding any major global business delegation in the next two days, a number of delegations are scheduled to come here from the first week of January to explore business opportunities.

To a query, they, however, ruled out any dialogue with Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee to discuss the possibility of withdrawing the 'bandh' but said they would make all efforts to maintain normal services in the respective industries throughout the State and urge all employees to join the work.

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