CM's message: no community bias  Tough words, subtle signal OUR BUREAU   Calcutta, Jan. 3: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee today sought to convey to industry that the AMRI crackdown was not targeted at any particular community. "A business chamber has commented on the AMRI incident. I want industry but not killer industry. A murderer is a murderer. A terrorist is a terrorist. A Bengali is a Bengali. A Punjabi is a Punjabi. Terrorists don't belong to any community," the chief minister told an unscheduled media conference at Writers' Buildings this afternoon. Mamata's comment, made on her own and before reporters could ask any question, came a day after the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) issued a statement on the AMRI fire and the subsequent arrest of seven directors. The Ficci statement had called for the immediate release of those "not responsible for day-to-day operations of any business" and the apex chamber's secretary general had said "we felt that it (the police action) was not completely non-discriminatory". The chief minister today appeared to be trying to address such delicate concerns without mentioning the main community associated with industry in Bengal but referring to two others to get across her message. She also sought to draw a distinction between alleged perpetrators and their ethnic origins, using the familiar example that "terrorists don't belong to any community". The way Mamata phrased her message — "terrorist is a terrorist" — initially created an impression that she equated industrialists with terrorists. However, Trinamul sources pointed out that the full statement made it clear she was drawing a distinction between the act of crime and the community to which the alleged suspects belonged. However, some industrialists asked how a chief minister could refer to "murderers and terrorists" when the charges against the AMRI directors had not been proved yet. From Mamata's statement, it was apparent that she had figured out that the real complaint of industrialists related to a perception that a particular group was being targeted. Several city-based industrialists have been saying in private that the administration had gone soft on doctors M.K. Chhetri and Pronab Dasgupta and director of medical education Sushanta Banerjee, who are also AMRI directors. "Besides arresting the seven directors, police have issued warrants against three — Rahul Todi, Priti Sureka and Aditya Agarwal. Doesn't it appear that only members of one particular community are being picked out?" asked a city-based industrialist. Having tried to answer the discrimination charge — though she did not say why all the directors have not been arrested — Mamata sought to reassure the general public and relatives of the victims of the fire. "There is no question of forgiving them. With folded hands I am saying, please forgive me. From this chair I have to ensure justice. There is a boundary between politician and administration. I should not cross my limit. The case is in the court. The law will take its own course," she said. Reacting to Mamata's statement, Ficci secretary general Rajiv Kumar told The Telegraph this evening: "We never for once prayed that the guilty should not be punished. All we asked for was that the process should be non-discriminatory and transparent." He said the Ficci statement was made to bring to the chief minister's attention the apprehensions among the business community. "It was a feedback to her so that she can take remedial steps on this matter and restore investors' confidence. We thought it was best to bring it in the open rather than fester and spoil the process of change she hopes to bring," Kumar added. Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry secretary general P. Roy said the Ficci statement reflected the mood of the business community. "Unequal treatment has been meted out to the directors. Punish the guilty only after the guilt is established," he said. Mamata's reference to "killer industry" also evoked comment. "I have not come across any industry set up to kill people. Accidents do take place. Punish those who were hands-on and in charge of the day-to-day affairs if there was any lapse. Similarly, those in charge of regulatory agencies appointed to ensure compliance should also be investigated," Merchant Chamber of Commerce trustee member B.K. Jhajharia said. Industries minister Partha Chatterjee later tried to allay fears that industrialisation in Bengal would be affected. He also referred to a pro-industry joint statement seven chambers of commerce had made during Trinamul's Singur agitation. "What happened after that?" he asked, suggesting that the people reposed faith in Mamata. "I can assure that the AMRI fire would not come in the way of the industrialisation process of Bengal. I am in touch with people in the industry," he added. A senior police officer told this newspaper that the administration was targeting only the shareholders of AMRI Hospitals. But an industrialist said: "This logic can be easily contested. The government holds 1.9 per cent share in the hospital and its nominee, Sushanta Banerjee, is the chairman. Then, why didn't the government arrest him?" Another officer said the police could not find any evidence against Chhetri, Dasgupta and Banerjee. If they were arrested, they might have got bail, which would have strengthened the case of the others for release, the officer said. Relatives' forum The Human Health Rights Forum, an association of AMRI victims, said: "Ficci should immediately revoke the statement… We do not know how much influence it would have on the government. But one thing is clear and that is Ficci's statement only indicates how it is trying to shield some of the accused persons," said Subhashis Chakraborty, whose wife Munmun was killed in the December 9 fire.

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