Kolkata: The state government has urged traders to principally support the reason behind the nationwide bandh called by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) protesting against Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in e-commerce but not to go for any strike in Bengal.
Sources said the direction has come during the meeting of the task force, which was constituted to regulate prices of essential goods. The meeting, headed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, was held on Thursday at the state Secretariat. It may be mentioned that Bengal has managed to give up its tag of a state indulging in "bandh culture" with various steps taken by the Chief Minister to ensure a proper "work culture" in the state.
A few days ago, the Chief Minister had raised her voice against the abrupt hike in the fuel prices and the Trinamool Congress also organised protest marches against the same.
But the state government had made all arrangements to ensure that no bandh takes place in the state when the all India strike on the issue was called by the Congress a few days ago.
Sources further said that there was discussion over the nationwide strike on September 28 in the task force meeting and the reason behind it. It is learnt that the Chief Minister has urged to build up protest against the issue of foreign direct investment in e-commerce by organising protest rallies, postering, etc. but did not encourage any strike for the same as it would lead to loss of man-days.
Besides the discussion on the issue of strike, there were also talks on matters related to prices of essential goods. The Chief Minister has stressed up the need of necessary steps to increase fish production in the state. It is learnt that she has urged the concerned officials to make Bengal self-sufficient in terms of the annual requirement of fish for consumption of the people in the state.
The matter related to the use of 2.5 lakh waterbodies that were being cleaned and restored under the "Jal Dharo Jal Bharo" project can be utilised for pisciculture.
At the same time she has directed the concerned official to look into the matter related to proper functioning of the Kishan Mandis. Moreover, she has also urged officials to ensure proper vigil so that prices of essential goods do not go up without valid reason. There are apprehensions that prices of essential goods might go up along with the skyrocketing fuel prices. Directions have also been given to maintain a vigil so that the prices of goods do not go up unnecessarily as restrictions have been imposed on plying of trucks with 20 wheels in the state.