The Indian National Trinamool Trade Union Congress (INTTUC) on Wednesday hit the streets in protest against the Union government’s policies on the jute sector. Senior party leaders, including Ministers Moloy Ghatak and Becharam Manna, were present at the gathering, which assembled outside the office of the Jute Commissioner of India in Kolkata’s Salt Lake area.
INTTUC State president Ritabrata Banerjee demanded the setting up of a Centre-State Joint Inquiry Committee (JIC) to probe and identify the culprits within and outside the Textile Ministry, “who are conspiring to destroy West Bengal’s jute sector”. A memorandum was also submitted to Jute Commissioner Moloy Chandan Chakraborty, who said that he would look into the document.
Supporters of INTTUC, the labour wing of the State’s ruling party, burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Textile Minister Piyush Goyal. INTTUC demanded immediate revision of the price cap of ₹6,500 per quintal of raw jute, introduction of new jute bag prices that has been pending since April 1, 2021, and retrospective effect from September 2016 in accordance with the suggestions of the Tariff Commission.
