TMC union allays investor fears :INTTUC claims the call to investor J.D. Gupta was made by an imposter using their name

INTTUC claims the call to investor J.D. Gupta was made by an imposter using their name

JD Gupta, the factory owner (second from right), with WBIIDC officials, at the Raninagar Industrial Centre on the outskirts of Jalpaiguri on Wednesday.: Biplab Basak

TT Correspondent   |   Jalpaiguri   |   19.11.22  : A senior leader of Trinamul workers’ arm INTTUC  filed a complaint with Kotwali police in Jalpaiguri on Friday, requesting police to take steps against anyone using the trade union’s name to approach private investors for vested interest.

The move is being seen as an attempt by the trade union to distance itself from an allegation by private investor J.D. Gupta who was in the district earlier this week that some INTTUC leaders and their aides called him up.

The union, sources said, is also trying to prove its “industry friendly” image as Gupta expressed concern over the phone calls and hinted he might have second thoughts on reopening his pipe manufacturing unit in Raninagar if such highhandedness continued.

“We have come to know some people are introducing themselves as INTTUC leaders or their associates and asking industrialists to meet them. This is undesirable. We have filed a complaint with the police and requested appropriate steps against all those trying to exert pressure on investors. Our union will never tolerate such acts,” said Sujoy Das, the INTTUC president of Jalpaiguri Sadar block–II committee who filed the complaint.

Gupta, who runs a number of units in Rajasthan and Punjab, reached the Raninagar Industrial Centre on the outskirts of Jalpaiguri town on Wednesday with a plan to reopen a pipe manufacturing unit that he set up in 2006 and shut in 2009 for internal reasons.

Gupta, who said around 100 people can get jobs in the unit, added that he got phone calls from people who called themselves INTTUC leaders and their associates.

“It is unfortunate that some people, who claim to be Trinamul’s trade union leaders, are calling me and insisting I meet them. I will surely meet them but they should wait till we get the factory ready for operations,” Gupta had said.

Rajesh Lakra, the district INTTUC president, said some people ran “duplicate unions” in INTTUC’s name to illegally make money.

“We are ready to extend all help to the industrialist. If required, I will stay in Raninagar to see he reopens his unit with no inconvenience,” Lakra said.

Manik Roy, the secretary of Raninagar Industrial Estate Workers’ Union affiliated to INTTUC, added: “We want more industrial units to come up here so that people here get jobs. We will ensure that Gupta does not face any problem.”

Sources said Raninagar has multiple lobbies of INTTUC and if a new unit opens up at the industrial centre, these lobbies allegedly force the management to hire their chosen workers.

Gupta left for Delhi on Thursday. “He will be back next month and is likely to hold talks with trade unions,” said a source. The BJP stayed sceptical.

“It is surprising that INTTUC leaders couldn’t identify Gupta’s callers so far...,” said Bapi Goswami, the district BJP chief.