West Bengal CM blames Trinamool regime for warehouse tragedy

A political war of words has erupted in West Bengal over the Taratala warehouse collapse with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari blaming the former Trinamool Congress regime for irregularities and corruption leading to such a tragedy.

“Taking money everywhere has turned the City of Joy into a City of Death. This [accident] is the result of your sins,” the Chief Minister said in the State Assembly. Mr. Adhikari said that Former Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim also signed the design of the collapsed warehouse and added that “No one will be spared”.

The collapse of an under-construction warehouse in Kolkata claimed 11 lives and the Chief Minister has repeatedly pointed out that the building plan was faulty. During his address in the House, Mr. Adhikari said that without the signature of a ‘kali’ no building plan was passed from Kolkata Municipal Corporation. The Chief Minister was referring to the Kalicharan Banerjee, the former Officer on Special Duty to former Mayor Firhad Hakim.

“Don’t we know what was happening at KMC? If Kali is picked up [arrested] , everything will come out. Without ‘Kali’, no plan was approved. Everyone knows that Kali was appointed by Camac Street. This Kali is building your Trinamool Bhavan next to the bypass for ₹200 crore. He takes money from here and sends it there. We know everything, we have found out everything,” the Chief Minister said. Later in the day, Kolkata Police arrested Kalicharan Banerjee in the Taratala warehouse collapse case.

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The development puts Firhad Hakim, MLA from Kolkata Port and former Mayor in a spot. Mr. Hakim has shifted allegiance from Mamata Banerjee to the rebel group of MLAs led by Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee. Mr. Hakim has also tried to warm up to the BJP regime by showering praises on Suvendu Adhikari and was recently seen teaching newly elected MLAs of the BJP about the procedures of State Assembly.

There was also reference to Camac Street in the speech of the Chief Minister from where Trinamool Congress leader, Abhishek Banerjee used to operate. Sources close to Mr. Banerjee said that an FIR was registered against Kalicharan Banerjee during the Trinamool regime.

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee loyalist and MLA Kunal Ghosh said if the former Mayor was involved in the corruption, then he should be arrested. Another Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra said that the Chief Minister is alleging that the building plan bore the signature of former Mayor Firhad Hakim, while at same time he is being considered among the leaders of the group of 65 MLAs.

“This raises questions of double standards. Opposition leaders are arrested immediately over minor incidents, yet similar action has not been taken in a case involving the deaths of 11 people,” the Trinamool MP said.