Mamata Banerjee: shocked about death of CCD founder, economy cannot grow if industry is demoralised

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee today took to Twitter to express her shock at the death of VG Siddhartha, founder of Café Coffee Day. Siddhartha had gone missing from a bridge near a river on Monday and his body near Mangaluru was found later from the Nethravati river.

He had reportedly written a letter to CCD employees before leaving stating the reasons why the company had been running losses.

Here is what Mamata Banerjee wrote on Twitter:

“I am deeply shocked by the incident relating to V G Siddhartha, Coffee Cafe Day (sic) founder. It is indeed very sad and very unfortunate.

From what he has expressed, it appears that he was greatly depressed due to harassment and pressure from different agencies for which he could not run his business in a peaceful manner. This he could not resist.

I hear from different sources that captains of industry in the country are under pressure; some of them have left the country and some are contemplating to move out. All the opposition political parties are afraid of horse trading and harassment with political vendetta.

On one hand, the economic growth of the country has nosedived to as low as 5.8% in the fourth quarter of 2018/19, the lowest in the last 5 years, and unemployment has increased to the highest level in the last 45 years.

On the other hand, central government is actively pursuing disinvestment of government assets, from Ordnance Factory Board to BSNL, from Air India to Railways, from Chittaranjan Locomotive Works to Alloy Steel Plant, Durgapur and about 45 more public sector undertakings.

The overall economy is in bad shape with the common people suffering the most. Industry and agriculture and creation of employment is the future of our country. If industry is demoralised, then there will be no economic and employment growth. As a result, more and more people will become jobless.

My appeal to the government is that when you have been elected, you have to work in a peaceful manner so that people are confident and that political vendetta and agencies do not destroy the future of the country.

I express my deep condolence to the family members of Siddhartha. I feel really sad to hear the news. I thought of sharing my feelings and thoughts with all of you.”