Shashi Panja slams left-era trade unions; Kunal Ghosh hints at renewed ties with Tata

West Bengal Industry Minister Shashi Panja criticised the functioning of trade unions during the Left Front regime while addressing a business gathering in Kolkata. She stated that prior to 2011, trade unions operated in a militant manner, often locking factories and harassing industrialists, which affected industrial activity in the state. She added that the environment for industries in Bengal has improved since then.

Referring to the period before the Trinamool Congress came to power, Panja said, “Everyone knows the condition of this state before 2011. That time’s trade unions used to work in an aggressive way.” She further stated, “Factories used to be locked, and industrialists were harassed. Now the situation has changed.”

Trinamool Congress national spokesperson Kunal Ghosh also addressed the gathering and commented on the party’s earlier opposition during the Singur agitation. He said, “Mamata Banerjee never said anything against the Tatas. She only opposed the then government’s policy that handed over forcibly acquired multi-crop land to industrialists.” Ghosh added that in 2005, then Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee faced sharp questions from industry leaders during a visit to Singapore, while during Mamata Banerjee’s visit to Madrid, business leaders expressed confidence in her.

Following Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s recent meeting with Tata Group officials, discussions within political circles have intensified over a possible revival of ties between the state and the business group. The Trinamool Congress has indicated that it is moving beyond the earlier Singur conflict and presenting West Bengal as ready for industrial investment.