Kolkata: The assault on two senior officials of Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) Burn Standard Ltd in Kolkata has got politicised with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rubbishing the charge of manhandling while the BJP alleged that the law and order has worsened in the state.
Banerjee said, "Livelihood of the workers is concerned in the matter. The workers were on hunger strike....I have cross-checked. There were arguments but no manhandling took place. I have asked the Chief Secretary to talk to the MD. But they have suspended the work. This is not right. I have checked four five times. There was no information of such incident. We want peaceful settlement. Suspension should be withdrawn."
GVL Narasimha of the BJP lashed out at the West Bengal government and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). "The law and order situation is so bad in West Bengal that the TMC workers feel they can attack anyone. The government may have changed but the law and order situation in West Bengal has not changed," he said.
Two senior officials - senior general manager and deputy general manager - of Central PSU Burn Standard Company Limited were assaulted on Wednesday allegedly by a group of agitating casual workers owing allegiance to TMC trade union wing INTTUC.
Senior general manager Santanu Sarkar and DGM Debashis Bhattacharya were allegedly dragged outside their office and assaulted near a gate of the factory.
Around 175 casual workers of Burn Standard Ltd, Howrah Works, were agitating outside the factory gates since February 11 and were also on a relay hunger strike demanding regularisation and others facilities.
The company said the protests started because it removed the contracted labourers. "We did not need them as the wagon rates had come down. The GM and DGM were manhandled and taken away. There is still no trace of them. Police investigation is also underway," it said.
According to an eye witness, the GM, DGM and he were sitting in office negotiating with the workers, when things heated up and they dragged them outside the gate. "There were 10-12 people. They pushed me away and took the GM and DGM away. Since then I have not been able to reach them on phone," he said.
However, a worker claimed that silent protests were being carried out by the labourers. "A notice came in last night that they shut down the company. Now, how will I take care of my family and my child's education?" he said.
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