A popular five-star hotel in Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal, has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. The hotel has been subjected to intense clashes between two factions of Trinamool Congress workers, leading to the imposition of Article 144 by the court.
This move was meant to restore peace, but it did not solve the problem. Despite several meetings between the hotel officials and labor leaders, the situation remained tense, with two groups fighting on the premises.
Reports suggest that the hotel officials have been tortured, and even though they claim that guests are not facing any inconvenience, some employees believe that the situation is worrying. The hotel is a popular destination for guests from home and abroad, and the recent clashes have tarnished its image.
The root cause of the problem seems to be an accusation of harassment against a female employee of the hotel, leading to a complaint being filed with the local police. The situation escalated, leading to the imposition of Article 144 on May 2. There are allegations that outsiders are creating tension on the hotel premises, and the hotel has informed the Kolkata Police and Labor Department about the situation.
Despite several meetings, no solution has been found, leaving the hotel's 600 employees worried about their future. The two factions responsible for the ruckus are allegedly led by two influential leaders of the ruling party, with their supporters roaming around the hotel premises. The local councilor has met with the hotel officials, but the dispute remains unresolved.
Both the opposition and the ruling party members have expressed their displeasure with the situation. The CPM central committee member Sujan Chakraborty lamented that the condition of industries in the state is already bad, and such incidents only make it worse. The state BJP chief spokesperson, Shamik Bhattacharya, stated that the incident is bound to have a negative impact on the hotel industry.
The hotel company's high-ranking officials from Mumbai have arrived in Kolkata and are closely monitoring the situation. It remains to be seen how this matter will be resolved and what impact it will have on the hotel industry and the state's image.