Chandigarh, July 23 (KNN) Various Industry associations in Punjab have expressed concerns over the suspension of operations by the Trident Group due to the agitation of farmers against the organisation.

The textile giant on Wednesday announced a temporary suspension of operations following a call given by BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) for a five-day stir outside its Barnala unit and other parts of the state.

“Such agitations will not only close the doors for new investments but will also force the existing industries to expand in other states. The textile industry is already investing in Madhya Pradesh and other states for various underlying reasons. We request the state government to stop such agitations that are ruining the economy and investment-friendly image of Punjab,” said Badish Jindal, president, AITF.

Upkar Singh Ahuja, president of the Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertaking (CICU) also expressed his concern stating that there is a massive problem of unemployment in the state, leading to migration. “Industry provides employment to thousands of youths and also contributes to the economy, but the current situation in Punjab is disappointing as we are only suffering for the last decade. “

“There are new Focal Points coming up in Meerut and we are getting a lot of signals from other states to come and set up units there. Such instances of large groups shutting down operations, even though temporarily, send a wave of panic and insecurity among small and medium scale units,” he added.

The industries in the state were already walking a tightrope due to various reasons, including demonetisation, unscheduled power cuts, lockdown during the pandemic, and rail blockade during farmers’ agitation and the slowdown in the market.

Only recently, the Mattewara industrial park project in Ludhiana was scrapped after widespread protests. (KNN Bureau)