Senior Congress leader and former West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Tuesday squarely blamed the ruling Trinamul Congress (TMC) for the devastating fire at Nazirabad in Anandapur, alleging large-scale administrative failure and political patronage behind the tragedy.
Mr Chowdhury visited the site of the incident and launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of remaining indifferent even after one of the deadliest industrial fires in recent times. “It is impossible for any humane person to stand here without feeling grief,” he said while addressing the media at Nazirabad. “We are hearing that at least 32 people have lost their lives. The responsibility lies entirely with the Trinamul Congress.”
The Congress leader alleged that such factories could not operate without the backing of ruling party leaders. He questioned how a large industrial unit could function without basic fire safety arrangements and why the administration remained unaware of crucial details such as the identity of the factory owner, the number of workers employed, and the legality of the construction. Mr Chowdhury further alleged that the factory had been built on wetlands, raising serious questions about regulatory clearances.
Targeting the Chief Minister directly, Mr Chowdhury said Ms Banerjee should have been the first to visit the site wearing a black badge in mourning. “Instead, she is attending events in Delhi and putting up a spectacle. She is evading responsibility,” he alleged.
Meanwhile, eight days after the incident, a three-member team of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) reached the site on Tuesday morning, prompting questions over the delay. The team had arrived in the state on Monday and held a meeting with the South 24-Parganas District Magistrate before inspecting the site at Nazirabad. They were also scheduled to meet the Superintendent of Police of Baruipur Police District.