Investors Wary Under Mamata Regime: Congress

Kolkata: Accusing the Trinamool Congress of vitiating the industrial environment of the state and making investors apprehensive, the Congress demanded a white paper on the West Bengal government's plans to attract investment.

"Haldia is not an isolated case. The Trinamool and its trade union has in the past two years vitiated the industrial environment making every single industrialist apprehensive. Some have already quit," state Congress president Pradip Bhattacharya told mediapersons here.

Bhattacharya also took a jibe at Banerjee's government holding a business summit in East Midnapore's Haldia in the first week of January to attract investors.

"Hosting lunch and dinner parties with industrialists will not bring investment. Concrete steps need to be taken. We demand a white paper on the government's plan to bring in investment," said Bhattacharya.

Following a prolonged labour impasse, port equipment handler Haldia Bulk Terminals (HBT) operating at Haldia port has announced its decision to quit operations.

Bhattacharya said he has talked to union Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan and urged him to take suitable steps to resolve the Haldia issue.

Congress leaders, including union ministers from the state, will visit Haldia Nov 20.

"The Congress has given the Haldia Chalo (Go to Haldia) call and our leaders, including union ministers from the state, will go to Haldia to demand and ensure rehabilitation of workers who have lost their jobs due to the imbroglio," Bhattacharya said.

The HBT, as part of its winding up operations, Nov 3 retrenched its remaining workforce of 348 employees. The company earlier sacked 275 employees in September.