Political Controversy Erupts Over Taratala Warehouse Collapse in West Bengal

A heated political conflict has emerged in West Bengal following the tragic collapse of a warehouse in Taratala, which resulted in the loss of **11 lives**. Chief Minister **Suvendu Adhikari** has laid blame squarely on the previous **Trinamool Congress (TMC)** government, accusing it of fostering **irregularities** and **corruption** that contributed to this disaster.

“Taking money everywhere has turned the City of Joy into a City of Death. This [accident] is the result of your sins,” Adhikari stated during a session in the State Assembly. He pointed out that the collapsed structure was signed off by **former Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim**, proclaiming that “no one will be spared” as accountability is sought.

The under-construction warehouse failure has sparked intense scrutiny, especially as Adhikari emphasized the faulty design and construction plans. He emphasized in the Assembly that **Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC)** mandated signatures from specific officials for any building plans to pass. He specifically referenced **Kalicharan Banerjee**, the former Officer on Special Duty under Firhad Hakim, implying his involvement in corrupt practices.

“Don’t we know what was happening at KMC? If Kali is picked up [arrested], everything will come out. Without ‘Kali’, no plan was approved. Everyone knows that Kali was appointed by Camac Street.”

Adhikari’s comments led to the arrest of **Kalicharan Banerjee** later that day, a significant development that places former Mayor Hakim in a precarious position. Hakim, who is also an MLA from Kolkata Port, has shifted his loyalty from **Mamata Banerjee** to the faction of **rebel MLAs** led by **Ritabrata Banerjee**. His relationship with the BJP has also been growing, as seen when he was recently observed instructing newly elected BJP MLAs on State Assembly protocols.

The Chief Minister’s remarks also hinted at connections to **Camac Street**, a base for prominent TMC leader **Abhishek Banerjee**. Reports indicate that an **FIR** was filed against Kalicharan Banerjee during the TMC’s earlier governance phase.

In the midst of this political fallout, a loyalist to Mamata Banerjee, **Kunal Ghosh**, has called for the arrest of the former Mayor if corruption is proven. Additionally, TMC leader **Mahua Moitra** condemned the situation, questioning the apparent double standards in the actions taken against opposition leaders. She remarked, “Opposition leaders are arrested immediately over minor incidents, yet similar action has not been taken in a case involving the deaths of **11 people**.”