Trinamool Congress MP from Tamluk (East Midnapore) Suvendu Adhikari on Friday said that the Haldia port issue was “politically motivated” and operations remained unaffected at the port.
“The issue… has been artificially created. A cargo clearing and handling agent Haldia Bulk Terminals (HBT) is being regarded as a big industrialist. But, there are many other cargo handlers at the port,” Adhikari said while addressing a meeting organised by the Indian National Trinamool Trade Union Congress (INTTUC), the labour union arm of Trinamool Congress at Haldia.
HBT, a joint venture between Mumbai-based ABG Ports and French logistics company Louis Drefus Armateurs (LDA), was appointed by Kolkata Port Trust in 2010 to handle dry bulk cargo in two mechanised berths at the dock complex. On October 31, HBT announced its decision to pull out from Haldia citing “lawlessness”.
Adhikari said senior State Congress leaders including Union Ministers of State were spreading “canards” against the State Government.
“The more you criticise us, the more people will vote for us,” he said and added that Trinamool would get more seats in the upcoming panchayat elections.