Roy quits as Bengal industry advisor

The chief minister was reportedly upset with Roy for his comments on the lack of land availability affecting industry in the state

Trinamool Congress (TMC) parliamentarian Saugata Roy has resigned as advisor to the West Bengal government’s industry department, over alleged differences with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Roy sent his resignation letter to Banerjee on  Wednesday night. Sources said the chief minister was upset with Roy for his recent comment that lack of land availability was a constraint for manufacturing industry in the state and wanted him to quit.

Roy declined to comment on the matter.

West Bengal industry minister Partha Chatterjee said: “There is no difference between Saugata Roy and the party leadership.” Chatterjee, however, did not give any explanation on Roy’s resignation.  

In a seminar last week, Roy had said: “Availability of land is a problem in our state. Given the constraint, it’s difficult to set up a large manufacturing industry here. Hence, the state should focus on MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises).”  

Incidentally, Roy was assigned to draft the state industrial policy. The government is yet to come out with one. Besides his comment on land availability, he had run-ins with party supremo Banerjee on several occasion in recent times. Roy had earlier criticised violence on college campuses in the state, where TMC's student wing was allegedly involved.

Before being appointed adviser to the state industry department after the TMC withdrew support to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government last September, Roy had served as minister of state for urban development at the Centre.