‘Stringent action will be taken against anti-social elements’

Banerjee had already warned party leaders not to get involved in any controversial issues while addressing party meetings. She has decided to review the performances of the party’s functionaries on the first Saturday of every month in her residence.

Banerjee on Tuesday held a meeting in Nabanna in which Firhad Hakim, the Urban Development minister, Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, Chief Secretary Basudeb Banerjee, Home Secretary Malay De and senior police officers including DG Surajit Kar Purakayastha were present. She said a clear instruction has been given that from now onwards police have to deal with anti-socials element with utmost strictness and at the same time actions should be taken if anyone is found filling up water bodies. 

“Forget what had happened in the past. But from now on, the police have to be proactive. But proactive doesn’t mean creating tension. It means maintaining peace and taking immediate action if anyone commits anything illegal to hamper peace,” she said.

“It will be not tolerated if a real estate agent fills up a water body at the dead of the night with the help of people involved in anti-social activities. I had received four to five complaints alleging demand for extortion money and sent Firhad Hakim to inspect one of the cases. He found that the complainant himself was filling up a waterbody to bring up a highrise and local youth had restricted him from doing so. When local youth had stopped him from filling up the waterbody, he started blaming Trinamool Congress workers,” she said, adding that all allegations are not true. 

Thus the police have been asked to look into the complaint properly and to take action without seeing any colour if the complaint is found a genuine one. “There are some people who are engaging someone to lodge a false complaint. This is unethical. One must know that Trinamool Congress always takes action if a worker of the party is found guilty in any incident,” Banerjee said adding that it will not be tolerated if someone tries to do illegal business taking the name of the party.

The Chief Minister further maintained that corporations, urban development department and municipalities have been directed to take action if anyone undertakes illegal construction. The police have also been asked to take necessary steps. She once again urged the people not to invest money in any schemes of chit funds. 

“Please try to understand that the state government cannot return the money if it is cheated by any chit fund group. One can lodge a complaint with the body headed by Jawed Shamim, Director of the Economic Offence Wing. Our consumer affairs department is also creating awareness among people asking them not to invest in any such schemes,” she stated.