Kolkata: Trinamool Congress and the CPI(M) have condemned the Union government's recent proposal to shift the raw materials division of (RMD) of public sector Steel Authority of India (SAIL) from Kolkata. The issue has resurrected the synergy of thoughts and brought two arch political rivals closer to each other. Despite being in two opposite political poles, the two forces have condemned this decision and described it as against the interest of the state.
The RMD of SAIL was established to ensure the supply of raw materials for steel manufacturing in the eastern part of the country. But suddenly the decision to wind up that division from Kolkata has come as a bolt from the blue.
The state president of Trinamool’s trade union wing, Ritobrata Bandopadhyay, who was earlier the CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member and the state secretary of CPI(M)’s trade union wing, CITU, Anadi Sahoo have spoken on the same lines on this issue. Both said that this is a ploy to totally divest government stake in these public sector units. According to them, this decision will adversely affect the two steel manufacturing units in the state namely DSP in Durgapur and IISCO in Burnpur. And once these two units become sick, the Union government will get an opportunity to divest its stake in these two organizations, both Bandopadhyay and Sahoo claimed.
Also read: Farmers suffering due to Centre's indifference, alleges Mamata
Sahoo alleged that the Union government had recently made similar disinvestment attempts in the case of certain other public sector units in the state like Bengal Chemicals. “We have given a call to all central trade unions irrespective of political affiliation for a united movement against such disinvestment efforts,” he said.
Similarly, Bandopadhyay said that it is actually an anti-Bengal and anti-Bengali ploy by the Union government. “This is also an attempt to weaken the solid base of public sector steel manufacturing units. We will not let this happen at any cost. We are going for an all-out and united movement against this move,” he said.
Now, the question arises whether this synergy of thoughts between these two arch rivals will help in bringing them closer politically in the coming days. Former principal of erstwhile Presidency College and renowned political scientist, Dr Amal Kumar Mukhopadhyay, however, ruled out that possibility.
Also read: West Bengal demands more GST compensation
“There can issue-based synergy of thoughts between opposition forces. But that does not necessarily bring two arch political rivals on the same platform. Actually, politics is supposed to be meant for the people of Bengal. So naturally, principal political forces in the state will talk on the same line on any issue which they perceive to be against the interest of the state. This is natural. But that does been a deep-rooted political friendship between two arch rivals,” he said.
