Kolkata: Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee has urged shop owners to keep shops and markets open and people to attend office on the day of Bharat Bandh on September 10, as Trinamool Congress by principle is against calling bandhs to voice protest.
Congress has called the Bharat Bandh to protest against the sharp rise in the price of petroleum products.
"We support the cause but oppose the bandh. Trinamool Congress is against calling bandhs as it believes that man-days should not be wasted by calling strikes," he said, adding: "We should remember that 80 lakh man-days were lost during the time of the previous government."
It may be mentioned that the state government has issued a memorandum in this regard, stating that all government offices will remain open on September 10 and employees will have to report for duty as usual or face a pay cut.
He said there will be a rally to protest against the hike in the price of petroleum products by the Centre, from Moulali to Dorina Crossing on September 10. Trinamool Congress leaders and workers will take part in the rally. In the districts, rallies and street corner meetings will be held on that day.
Without naming CPI(M), Chatterjee said for over three decades, Bengal's work culture had been destroyed due to bandhs and strikes. Bandhs were called without any rhyme or reason. Business was also badly affected as a result.
He said after coming to power in 2011, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has tried her best to restore the financial health of Bengal. Schemes were taken up and Bengal has made tremendous progress. "Under such a situation we are not going to bring back the older days and bring back the culture of wasting man-days."
Chatterjee said it was Mamata Banerjee who had raised her voice against the Centre. "The government at the Centre is a corrupt government and absolutely shameless," he said.
It may be mentioned that Trinamool Congress workers had earlier staged agitation at different places on September 3 against the skyrocketing fuel prices. On August 31, Mamata Banerjee had tweeted: "Rupee suffering from low fever. Petrol and Diesel prices highest ever. Foreign Exchange Reserves have fallen by $21.84 Billion between March end and August 3. Current Account Deficit is moving up towards 2.8 percent of GDP."