AGARTALA: State Minister Pranajit Singh Roy on Wednesday hit out at the CPI(M) over the long-running jute mill controversy, addressing a press conference alongside State Media In-Charge Sunit Sarkar.
Roy said the jute mill began trial production in 1980 and commercial production in 1981, having initially encouraged farmers with raw material supply opportunities. However, he alleged the enterprise was later politicised, breeding factionalism and division among workers. Against a sanctioned strength of 807 posts, he said, 2,253 employees were eventually recruited, forcing the state government to now pay Rs 220 crore in compliance with a court order.
The minister said the Left Front government had itself challenged the High Court verdict in the Supreme Court, and had it accepted the earlier ruling, the liability would have been limited to Rs 20-25 crore. He accused the opposition, particularly the CPI(M), of misleading jute mill workers’ families and the public.
Roy also referred to remarks made by Jitendra Chowdhury and Shankar Prasad Dutta on beef consumption among Kshatriyas and Brahmins, saying these had hurt Hindu sentiments across the state.
The Finance Minister outlined the government’s proposed initiatives for the jute mill premises.