Mamata calls for industrial peace in ‘bad situation’ from demonetisation

Haldia (West Bengal), Jan 2 (IANS) Slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi again on the currency ban, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday called for "industrial peace" for creating more employment opportunity when demonetisation makes "the industrial situation bad".

She appealed to district administrators to cooperate with the industries.

"You must co-operate with them. Industries are assets and ancillaries are the big assets. They prove employment to locals. There must be a good relation between industrialists, employees and locals.

"Peace must be maintained to run the industries," she said at the inauguration of Exide Industries' new plant here.

"After demonetisation in the last two months, industrial situation become bad. Many employees are losing jobs," she said after giving thanks to the company for investing in the state and giving employment to workers.

She said the state has 37 lakhs MSMEs and they are "facing a turmoil situation after demonetisation".

Hitting out to the erstwhile Left Front government, she claimed no man days were lost after her party came to the power in the state.

"About Rs 10,000 crore was invested in Haldia in the last one year," she said.

Attacking the Prime Minister on the demonetisation issue she said India is "place for democracy", not for "dictatorship".

"It is not right if someone thinks that he is a dictator after being voted to power. It (India) is not a place for dictatorship, it is a place for democracy," she said without taking Modi's name.

She said the state has planned to set up an international convention centre at Digha in East Midnapore district to boost tourism there.

She also on Monday inaugurated Bengal Information Technology park at Haldia, built at an investment of Rs 24 crore.