Ghani's brother to take oath on Indira's B'day

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 27: Mr AH Khan Choudhury, who had defeated his CPI-M rival Mr Sailen Sarkar in the recently concluded LS by-poll in Malda, will be sworn in as an MP on 19 November, the birthday of the late Indira Gandhi.The Malda Congress leaders today said that the date for Mr Choudhury’s swearing-in had been fixed by the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi.Meanwhile, the demand for a ministerial berth to the new Malda MP has been gaining momentum here. Congress leader and former MLA, Mr Mostaque Alam, said the demand for ministerial berth to Mr Choudhury was being considered by the Congress high command. Mr Alam, however, said there was no chance of the new Malda MP being appointed as a full cabinet minister.

Security beefed up for Pujas in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 27: Plain-clothed policemen will patrol the streets on bicycles in English Bazaar town to monitor the crowd during Pujas this year as a part of the elaborate security measures adopted by the Malda district administration. It was learnt that senior police officials of Malda held a meeting with officials concerned and the NGOs regarding the control of traffic movement during Pujas, from evening to midnight in the English Bazaar town. The district administration has appealed locals to visit puja pandals in the town on foot. At the same time, the Malda DM has instructed the members of the Malda Merchants Camber of Commerce to keep a check on the prices of essential commodities during puja time to dissuade traders from resorting to black marketing. It was learnt that non-availability of essential items due to disruption of traffic movement on NH-34 has become a cause of concern for the district administration.Glass mural pandal: A pandal made out of “glass mural” by the Malda Shibaji Sangha (MSS) members is set to be the centre of attraction for locals here this puja. The MSS members said that the glass mural has long been synonymous with Italy, where this art form is used to decorate churches and cathedrals. This year, however, the local artisans have modified this art form to construct a South Indian temple for making a Durga puja pandal. Covering an area of over 5000 square feet, it was learnt that this unique pandal is the handiwork of 10 local artisans, who have prepared hundreds of glass mural sheets to decorate the pandal.The pandal will also showcase replicas of art works made by famous Bengal artists. Artist, Mr Prodyot Muzumdar, said that a Durga puja pandal made out of glass mural would be the first-of-its-kind to be constructed in this state.

Plea to execute river project

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept 26: Political leaders today urged the Malda district administration to execute the Tangan Valley Project (TVP) in the Barind belt in order to protect this region, a large potion of which is under paddy cultivation, from the prevailing drought like condition. This demand for TVP implementation was today voiced by the CPI-M MLA, Mr Khagen Murmu, in a meeting organised by the administration to chalk out a plan for human resource development in the district. Mr Susanta Sarkar, the Trinamul Congress Zilla Parishad member, also said that he supported Mr Murmu’s idea. It may be noted that this project failed to take off in spite of the fact that the Congress and the Left Front had backed it. Political leaders said as many as dozens of river lifting irrigation schemes were proposed for the Tangan river but with time they all have become defunct. The leaders pointed out to the district administration officials that the Tangan used to carry a large quantum of water earlier, but presently the region is bereft of a good water source for irrigation as the river has got now silted and has changed its course as a result of erosion. In today’s meeting, officials discussed the scope for development in the district keeping in mind the present scenario. They further proposed to prepare a five-year plan for the development of the district. Today’s meeting, convened by the administration, witnessed active participation from members of the district planning committee, district human development committee, and representatives of various non-governmental organisations.

Joint protest by Trinamul, Congress

Statesman News Service

MALDA/COOCH BEHAR, Sept. 26: The Congress and Trinamul Congress supporters of Malda organised an hour-long roadblock on NH-34 at Rathbari today to protest against the arrest of the Trinamul supremo, Miss Mamata Banerjee, and police lathi charge on their activists last night in connection with the government’s land acquisition programme. It was learnt that a joint rally would be organised by the Malda Congress and Trinamul Congress members here tomorrow as per directives from the state Congress high command. Malda Congress leaders today said it was high time for the Congress and the Trinamul Congress to join hands in West Bengal to dislodge the CPI-M and the Left Front from power. Meanwhile, the Trinamul Congress activists observed a protest day in Cooch Behar district today by organising roadblocks at different places, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon and holding street corner meetings against the alleged “forceful” acquisition of agricultural lands from the peasants of Singur in the name of industrialisation. The Trinamul Congress sources said that a one-hour roadblock was held organised at Cooch Behar Court More, Mathabhanga, Nishiganj, Changrabandha and Baneswar. President of Cooch Behar District Trinamul Congress Mr Rabindra Natha Ghosh, president of District Trinamul Youth Congress Mr Shibendra Nath Roy and other leaders led the programme at Cooch Behar Court More. In Mathabhanga, the CPI-M supporters attacked the Trinamul Congress agitators during the programme but the police arrested 16 Trinamul supporters instead of the CPI-M supporters, Mr Ghosh alleged. Later they were released on bail. Mr Ghosh said that they would continue their campaign against the CPI-M and the Left Front till 9 October.On that day they will observe bandh in Cooch Behar district as a part of Bangla bandh called by the Trinamul Congress on Singur issue against the alleged forceful land acquisition and mishandling of party supremo Miss Mamata Bannerjee by the police, Mr Ghosh added.

No end to passemgers' woes

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept 26: Malda district magistrate Mr Chittaranjan Das today apprised the Writers’ Building about the deplorable condition of the National Highway-34 that caused frequent traffic jams of vehicles plying on the route in Malda and Murshidabad. Mr Das had reportedly convened a meeting with officials concerned to review the damage caused to properties following recent heavy rainfall and storm in the region, besides seeking help from the Writers’ Building on the issue. It was learnt that the virtual collapse of the NH-34 at several points between south Bengal and north Bengal, had left thousands of lorries stranded on either side of the Farakka Barrage. The situation aggravated by the collapse of the railway route passing through Rampurhat, which is the only alternative route via Ajimganj. Passengers from south Bengal and north Bengal are now, reportedly, finding it difficult to travel by either buses or trains. The Malda DM said he tried to contact the Murshidabad DM so that the condition of NH-34 could be improved as soon as possible, with help from the national highway authorities of India.But it was learnt that the Murshidabad DM was busy trying to tackle the flood situation in the district.The latter, however, assured the Malda DM that he would expedite the repair of the NH-34 once the water level of the flood in Murshidabad had receded. The Malda DM, Mr Chittaranjan Das, said incessant rain in the past two days had damaged more than 2,500 mud-houses and claimed the lives of five people in the district.

Road services disrupted

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 25: Thousands of lorries and other vehicles have been stranded on NH-34 between Kaliachak in Malda and Jangipur in Murshidabad, a 70 km stretch, as the highway has become one-way due to incessant rainfall over the past few days. Road communication between south and north Bengal has been paralysed on NH-34 due to bad conditions of the roads. A part of the road near Jangipur had been subsided in today’s heavy rains. To save the damaged road at Jangipur in Murshidabad, the authorities concerned had adopted the one-way traffic system. Passengers of the long distant buses are the worst sufferers as they have to wait at least for six hours to cross the damaged part of the highway owing to the traffic congestion. Members of the Malda Bus Owners Association today staged a demonstration at the office of National highway Authorities of India (NHAI) located at Mangalbari in Malda.The MBOA members have threatened to gherao the NHAI office tomorrow if the initiative to improve the condition of the important highway was not taken.

Malda CMOH removed

MALDA , Sept. 21: The state health department issued a notice on 19 September, removing Dr Gopal Sarkar from the post of chief medical officer of health, Malda, following allegations of financial irregularities against him, a district official said here today. It was alleged that Dr Sarkar had directed the officials concerned to buy medicines worth Rs 1.70 crore, keeping the district administration in the dark. State health minister Dr Surya Kanta Misra had ordered a probe against Dr Sarkar after receiving several complaints against him. It was also alleged that Dr Sarkar had issued fresh licenses, besides renewing the contract of the existing private nursing homes and pathological centres in the district, violating the norms of Clinical Establishment Act. Investigations revealed that at least 150 applications were pending at Dr Sarkar’s disposal, but the clinics were allowed to run their businesses without any license. Malda DM, Mr Chittaranjan Das, has expressed his surprise over Dr Sarkar’s acts. “I have heard of the medicine purchase order, but it is surprising that he gave the order without the knowledge of the district health committee,” he said n SNS

CPM young brigade targets Sailen

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept 20: Upset with the defeat in the by-poll, the CPI-M’s young brigade is holding senior CPI-M leader and state minister Mr Sailen Sarkar solely responsible for the loss in the election. A section of CPI-M supporters has also demanded his exit from the party. The agitated cadres are also raising the question of Mr Sarkar’s acceptability as compared to others in the party whose names were proposed for candidature but scrapped by the party’s district leadership. “Despite being a senior leader Mr Sarkar’s popularity is at an ebb. It is puzzling how the party top brass failed to notice that,” is the common refrain among the CPI-M men here. “Fearing disciplinary action we could not protest the leadership’s decision and failed to voice our demand on behalf of leaders such as Mr Pranab Das who contested in the last election or Mr Samar Roy, the former CPI-M MLA from English Bazaar,” the cadres alleged. “Mr Sarkar should quit the party,” said Mr B Jha, a coordination committee member in the Malda DM office. The cadres also believe that a large number of government employees who are CPI-M supporters, did not cast their votes in favour of Mr Sailen Sarkar as Mr Sarkar had allegedly played a negative role to defeat Mr Samar Roy in the Assembly elections. As a result, the Congress got 10,000 votes more than the CPI-M candidate in the just concluded by-poll from the English Bazaar Assembly segment. The CPI-M district leadership, however, continues to side with Mr Sarkar. According to the CPI-M Malda district secretary, Mr Jiban Moitra, Mr Sarkar has “performed well” by increasing 6 per cent votes in comparison to the previous parliamentary elections. “We did not get above 50 per cent votes when the Malda parliamentary constituency was won by the CPI-M. Compared to that, we have succeeded in increasing our percentage of votes this year, which is some kind of an achievement,” he added. Criticising the Congress Mr Moitra said: “The Congress won the Malda seat through an unethical understanding with the BJP.”

Chief Justice takes on errant lawyers

Statesman News Service
MALDA, Sept. 20: Mr V S Sirpurkar, Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, today criticised both lawyers and workers for allegedly observing a holiday whenever political parties called a strike. He was here to attend the inauguration of a new building at the Malda Court. Expressing displeasure with the common tendency to shorten the number of working days, the Chief Justice also took up the matter of court workers’ plea for a month long Puja vacation and summer vacation and their threat to boycott work if their demands were not met. “How can you afford to boycott a court where thousands of criminal cases are pending? We must not lose our accountability to the common people while pressing for our demands,” he added. Mr Sirpukar said that during his recent visit to Kolkata, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court proposed for a second shift of the courts from 5 pm to 9 pm to expedite processing of the large number of cases pending at different courts. “It is good to know that the Bar Association accepted this proposal and wanted to begin this second shift at Howrah Court,” Mr Sirpurkar said.

Ghani magic works -- Malda shows the way

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 19: Malda has paid tributes to ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury by returning his brother and Congress candidate Mr AH Khan Choudhury. The polls showed Barkat da still rules Malda.An elated Mr AH Khan Choudhury has attributed his victory to Ghani Khan. Mr Choudhury also thanked the Trinamul Congress supremo Miss Mamata Banerjee for supporting the Congress in the by-poll. He denied Mr Sailen Sarkar’s allegation that the Congress and the BJP had reached a secret understanding in the run-up to the polls here. Reacting to her brother’s win, Mrs Rubi Noor, president of Malda district Congress, said: “Today’s result has proved that the people of Malda will never forget Barkatda. Many people had written off the Congress here but the voters have proved them wrong.”#

Win re-run in by-polls

Statesman News Service

KOLKATA, Sept. 19: The CPI-(M)-led Left Front and the Congress and the Trinamul Congress today retained their seats in Saturday’s by-election to three Lok Sabha and one Assembly seats. The CPI-(M) and Forward Bloc held their sway over the predominantly rural Katwa and Purulia Lok Sabha seats, respectively, while the Congress retained the Malda Lok Sabha berth and the Trinamul the Bongaon Assembly seat.“We lost Bongaon and Malda because our organisation is weak there. It’s weak, weak, weak!” CPI-(M) state secretary Mr Biman Bose cried at the party’s Alimuddin Street headquarters while taking pride in the Katwa candidate’s ability to increase his margin of win. Mr Bose did not mention, though, why the Purulia margin had gone down. The Congress was upbeat and was already making plans for a merger. “We are not asking Miss Banerjee to leave the NDA immediately, but efforts will be made for the Trinamul’s merger with the Congress,” Dr Manas Bhuniya, senior Congress leader said. In fact, the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, called Trinamul chief Miss Mamata Banerjee to congratulate her on her party’s Bongaon victory. Though the by-election results declared today turned out to be predictable, the call from the Congress president to the principal Opposition leader in the state indicated that significant political changes are in the offing. But the unofficial electoral adjustment between the Congress and the Trinamul could not clinch any landslide victory. Riding the sympathy wave following the death of his brother ABA Ghani Khan Chowdhury, Congress candidate Mr AHA Khan Chowdhury defeated CPI-(M)’s Mr Sailen Sarkar by 83,391 votes. Mr Sarkar managed to poll more votes, though, than the CPI-(M) candidate who faced the late Ghani Khan Chowdhury in 2001 elections and lost by 1,10,000 votes.

Tight security for counting day

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 18: All police stations in Malda district have been put on high alert following reports that post-poll violence might take place after the announcement of the Lok sabha by-poll result here tomorrow. Mr DK Mondal, the Malda SP, said extra security measures have been put in place in the Kaliachak and Aridanga assembly segments. It was learnt that a company of Central paramilitary had been stationed on the Malda Polytechnic premises where the counting will take place tomorrow. Additional police forces will be deployed outside the counting hall premises, the SP informed. Intelligence officials said there was a possibility of violence after the announcement of the result tomorrow. Sources said the Congress workers here would not be able to restrain themselves, if their candidate, Mr AH Khan Choudhury, loses the battle against his CPI-M rival, Mr Sailen Sarkar. The issue of the late Congress leader, Ghani Khan Choudhury, is still a sentimental one for the Malda Congress workers of Kaliachak segment who worked hard in the run-up to the by-poll in a bid to ensure their candidate’s victory It may be recalled that Mr AH Khan Choudhury was defeated in the assembly election this year at Kaliachak and some Congress workers had accused the CPI-M of playing communal cards to defeat Mr Choudhury. Considering all this, the Malda police are leaving no stone unturned to avoid post-poll violence ~ especially at Kaliachak and Aridanga. Police officials have also not ruled out the possibility of violence erupting in the district after the announcement of the result tomorrow.

By-poll over , it's time for exit poll

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 17: Malda election officials said that 77.51 per cent voters’ turnout was recorded in yesterday’s Lok Sabha by-poll here. Over 85 per cent votes had been polled in 144 polling stations, the Malda SDO, Mrs Arunima De, said. In the last Lok Sabha election, the turnout was 80 per cent in Malda, and the late Ghani Khan Choudhury had been elected by a margin of over one lakh votes. On the other hand, it was also learnt that 100 per cent turnout was recorded at eight polling stations at English Bazaar town, and zero per cent at two polling stations at Kaliachak. What stunned the political leaders was the fact that no poll boycott had been called for at the two polling stations at Kaliachak where zero per cent turnout was recorded. Meanwhile, with counting scheduled for Monday, political parties have started making victory claims. While the Congress leaders are hoping that their candidate Mr AH Khan Choudhury will win the Malda Lok Sabha by-poll by a margin of over 25,000 votes; the CPI-M leaders have claimed that Mr Sailen Sarkar will emerge victorious from the seat by a margin of 7,000 to 15,000 votes. This was for the first time that the CPI-M and the BJP played communal cards here to take on the Congress. It was alleged that during the polling yesterday, a large number of BJP supporters at Bamongola and Habibpur, realising perhaps that the BJP candidate has no chance of winning, started casting their votes in favour of the CPI-M’s Hindu candidate in a bid to ensure the defeat of the Congress candidate. The Congress leaders, however, refuted the allegation. Mr Goutam Chakraborty, sabhadhipati, Malda Zilla Parishad, said: “Realising that their candidate is set to lose, the CPI-M has started playing communal cards to malign the image of the late Ghani Khan Choudhury and his family. People know the secular image of the late Khan Choudhury.” With Mr AH Khan Choudhury having an edge, frustrated CPI-M workers alleged that in many places the Congress workers had campaigned showing Osama Bin Laden’s photograph and told them that a Muslim candidate should go to New Delhi as people’s representative from Malda.” “We are strict against communal violence,” a DYFI leader said. Rumours were also being circulated in the run-up to the polls that a temple would be constructed at Pandua, a historical place at Gazole, demolishing an ancient mosque. Senior district CPI-M leaders, including the state minister and the CPI-M candidate for the Malda Lok Sabha by-poll, Mr Sailen Sarkar, while addressing a Press conference, had alleged that hundreds of clerics had been deployed by the Congress to campaign on communal lines. #

BY-poll boost for Mahajot mission

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 17: Senior Malda district Congress leader and sabhadhipati of Malda zilla parishad, Mr Goutam Chakraborty, has said that the electoral understanding between the Congress and the Trinamul Congress in the Lok Sabha by-poll here would go a long way in deciding the state’s future politics, vis-a-vis the opposition’s resolve to end the communists’ reign in the state.“The Malda bypoll is an acid test for Bengal politics. If the by-poll alliance between the Congress and the Trinamul works and Mr AH Khan Choudhury emerges victorious, it would pave the way for a grand alliance in the state against the Left Front,” Mr Chakraborty, said. “This is for the first time that without seeking help from the BJP, the Congress and the Trinamul have fought against the CPI-M candidate in Malda. If Mr Choudhury wins, one should take this for granted that the next assembly election in the state will witness a revolution,” Mr Chakraborty said. Thanking the Trinamul supremo, Miss Mamata Banerjee, for her decision to support the Congress ignoring her party’s official alliance with the BJP, senior Congress leaders of Malda have said Miss Banerjee’s respect for the late Ghani Khan Choudhury was appreciable.It may be recalled that Ghani Khan had wanted to form a grand alliance in the state to take on the LF in the last assembly election.However, the plan did not materialise for several reasons, much to the chagrin of the grand alliance-backers here. It was also learnt that the Union I&B and parliamentary affairs minister, Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, had played a vital role in pacifying Miss Banerjee to support the Congress candidate in the Malda by-poll. Mr Subrata Mukherjee, who rejoined the Congress recently, had confessed here in an election rally that Mr Das Munshi had played a vital role to form an alliance with the Trinamul here for the by-poll.

By-election peaceful in state ....

Statesman News Service

KOLKATA, Sept. 16. — Barring the removal of a presiding officer at a booth and vote boycott at another, both in Malda, the polling process was peaceful in the by-elections in the three parliamentary constituencies and an Assembly seat today. Stating this, Mr Debasis Sen, chief electoral officer, said that 63 per cent of votes had been polled during the day while 81 per cent votes were polled in the previous Assembly elections. The presiding officer was removed at booth number 27 at Mojampur Junior school at Kaliachak, the CEO said. He was removed after an allegation that he was trying to influence a sightless voter on the pretext of helping him. Voters of booth number 20 at Sahebramtala at Manikchak boycotted the polling. Irate over a “local issue”, they stayed away, Mr Sen said. In all, 75 per cent votes were polled at Bongaon while 56 per cent votes were polled at Purulia. While 69 per cent votes were polled at Katwa, 60 per cent votes were polled at Malda, the CEO said. The inspector general of police (Law and Order), Mr Raj Kanojia said that no incident of violence was reported during by poll to one Assembly and three Parliamentary constituencies today. “Polls were held peacefully and no incident of violence was reported from Purulia, Katwa, Malda and North 24 Parganas. Six persons were arrested and a few bombs were recovered from Bongaon. No arrest has been reported from Katwa, Purulia and Malda,” said Mr Kanojia.

Malda

An unspecified number of voters of polling station No. 20 at Manikchak boycotted the Malda Lok Sabha by-poll today in order to draw the administration and political leaders’ attention towards lack of basic amenities in the area, the district magistrate said. The agitators had boycotted the last Assembly polls for similar reasons but neither district officials nor political leaders made any effort to sort out their problems. “They intimated the district administration of their decision. Their problems would be looked into after the poll process ends,” district magistrate Mr Chittaranjan Das said. According to the district election officials, polling up to 3.30 p.m. today passed off peacefully with around 53 per cent of votes cast. The DM denied allegations of booth jamming and rigging. A presiding officer in Kaliachak had to be replaced for violating EC guidelines.

Katwa

The Katwa Lok Sabha by election passed off peacefully today. It marked 53 percent polling. The district administration sources said that polling was hampered for one hour at Pandua due to mechanical fault of an EVM. Also the Trinamul Congress complained of booth jamming by a section of CPI-M cadres at a booth at Pandua.

Purulia

The by-election for the Purulia Lok Sabha seat concluded on a peaceful note today. The DM, who is also the returning officer of Purulia, said that 60 per cent votes were cast. A repoll was ordered as the Electronic Voting Machine failed and polling was cancelled at booth no: 236/142 in Hesla Harijan Primary School in Arsha (Purulia). For challenging the identity of a voter, Mr Rabilochan Patra, a polling officer (2nd) was reportedly assaulted by the voter who had come to exercise his franchise with his university admit card to booth no: 238/108 at Kalidas Primary School.

Bongaon

The by-election to the Bongaon Assembly constituency in North 24-Parganas passed off peacefully today with 75 per cent electorate exercising their voting rights. The seat became vacant after Trinamul Congress legislator Bhupen Seth passed away within a month of the Assembly polls. Police recovered 9 live bombs and seized five two wheelers and one four wheeler from Bongaon today and arrested six persons for driving without licences. Neither the CPI-M nor the Trinamul Congress brought charges of electoral malpractice against each other. There was tension at the Belganga poling station after rumours that the Trinamul Congress agent had left the polling station after being threatened by some CPI-M cadres. Police reached the spot but no untoward incident was reported. To ensure trouble-free election, eight companies of paramilitary force and 700 state police personnel were deployed in 216 polling stations. Both Mr Saugata Roy, Trinamul Congress candidate and his rival from the CPI-M Mr Pankaj Ghosh were happy with the process of voting. #

Malda Parliamentary By-poll -- Review

Headed for a photo-finish



The late Ghani Khan Choudhury continues to cast a wide shadow in Malda even as the big fight for the by-poll involves his brother and the Left Front’s Sailen Sarkar, writes Manas R Bannerjee

THE late Abu Barkat Ataul Ghani Khan Choudhury may be no more, but as far as the Malda by-poll, scheduled for 16 September, is concerned he continues to remain the “king” — the last word in Malda politics.And this does not only apply to Congress workers. Even CPI(M) leaders have been recalling his memory in their election campaigning.

Though it promises to be a tough contest between Congress candidate Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, alias Dalu and brother of the late Ghani Khan, and CPI(M) candidate Sailen Sarkar, it virtually amounts to a fight between “Ghani Khan and the Left Front” in this region. Because of the strong base the late Ghani Khan created in Malda, Murshidabad and North Dinajpur, it is going to be a prestigious fight for the Congress.

Its leaders still believe the people of Malda will cast “two votes” for the party here. They explain, “The people will vote for Barkatda to pay him respect before entering a polling station and finally they will vote for his brother.”

In urging voters, Congress workers say, “You had cast votes in favour of our great leader for five years. Please don’t elect anyone (before completion of the five-year term), who is still anti-Barkatda after his sudden death”.

In order to counter such a campaign, CPI(M) leaders remember to pay their respects, calling him the man who worked “for the development of Malda” at every election rally they address.

Even chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee did not forget to pay the late Ghani Khan respect before directly attacking his brother, the contesting candidate, and raising questions about his identity, quality and political profile in comparison with that of his elder brother and CPI(M) candidate Sailen Sarkar.

“Sailenbabu is a far better candidate than Dalu. He is the only alternative to Barkat Saheb in Malda. Dalu’s identity is ‘brother of Ghani Khan’. He does not have the quality to represent the interest of Malda’s people in New Delhi. People did not elect him in the last assembly from Kaliachak, after the death of his brother,” the chief minister said at all the three election rallies he addressed recently.

Bhattacharjee said only the Left Front was capable of fulfilling the dreams of the late Ghani Khan Choudhury. The “have faith in me” plea was what cost Dalu the Kaliachak assembly seat.

The CPI(M) has circulated scores of colourful leaflets portraying Sailen Sarkar, including his his profile, and party leaders even printed Sarkar’s name on plastic carry bags in which leaflets, folders, booklets and other campaign materials have been distributed among thousands of voters over the past few days.

Interestingly, the CPI(M) has projected and circulated photographs in leaflet form in which Sailen Sarkar is shown shaking hands with Ghani Khan Choudhury, with the caption: “Barkat regards to Mr Sarkar”.

CPI(M) leaders are hoping that this will be their great chance to recapture the seat and they have adopted various strategies to defeat the Congress candidate. Dozens of state level leaders and ministers had been deployed to campaign in Malda Lok Sabha constituency that comprises seven assembly segments. Swimmer Bula Choudhury and athlete Jyotirmoyee Sikdar were also present in Sarkar’s roadshows.

Since 1980, the late Ghani Khan, a former state minister, Union minister and Malda MP, was elected eight times from Malda Lok Sabha constituency and for the CPI(M) it was always a distant dream to snatch the seat from him. In fact, Ghani Khan defeated Sailen Sarkar, presently state parliamentary affairs minister, three times.

The last time when Sarkar was defeated by a margin of over 24,000 votes, a senior of a senior state level CPI(M) leader was overheard saying, “We should not expect Malda LS seat before Barkat’s retirement.”

In 1991, the CPI(M) saw a ray of hope but Sarkar lost to Ghani Khan. In 1996, the party again nominated Sarkar but Ghani Khan was elected by a margin of over 89,000 votes. In 1998, the Left Front nominated CPI(M) candidate Jiban Moitra, present CPI(M) district secretary and district Left Front convener, but he managed only 36 per cent of the vote against Ghani Khan’s 42 per cent.

In his third attempt, Sarkar was able to secure just one per cent more of the vote (of the 78 per cent polled votes) in the 1999 Lok Sabha election and was defeated by a margin of over 24,000 votes.I

n 2004, it was decided not to field Sarkar against Ghani Khan. The CPI(M) state leadership decided to nominate Pranab Das, a low profile district leader from the student and youth wings.

It may be recalled that Ghani Khan did not agree to contest the 2004 parliamentary election and tried to nominate a heir because of his illness. But due to unavoidable circumstances, he failed to nominate anyone from his family and, as a result, Congress leaders very close to him prevailed upon him to file his nomination for the last time.

His sister, Rubi Noor, presently district Congress president, had sent a message to the people: “This is the last vote for Barkatda, we want to elect him by a record margin of over 100,000 votes.” Ultimately, Ghani Khan secured 49 per cent of the over 80 per cent votes polled and defeated Pranab Das by a margin of 111,108 votes.

Das secured only 36 per cent votes.

Now, however, Congress leaders are worried about the CPI(M) strategies, especially in the wake of the chief minister's campaign. To retain the seat, the “guardian-less” Congress in Malda, led by Ghani Khan family members, is depending on Union minister for information and broadcasting and parliamentary affairs minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, although the late Ghani Khan used to call him “very mischievous” owing to the differences of opinion among them on various issues.

Congress MPs and other Union ministers were camping at various spots to bag votes in excess of 100,000, which the late Ghani Khan secured in the last election.

It may be recalled that in the last assembly election (2006), the Left Front secured 403,032 votes from seven assembly segments (Malda LS area), the Congress got 358,339 votes and the BJP-Trinamul alliance bagged 94,737 votes.

In the Malda LS by-poll, only five candidates are contesting, including Biswapriya Roy Choudhury, a district leader of the Malda BJP and two other independent candidates.

In 1998, 1999 and 2004, the state BJP had nominated a Muslim candidate from the state level in Malda Lok Sabha constituency considering the population ration between Hindus and Muslims, which was 13,77,844 and 12,52,292 respectively according to the 1991 Census report.

In 1998 and 1999, BJP candidate Majaffar Khan secured 20 and 21 per cent of votes respectively. In 2004, Badshah Alam (BJP) had managed only 10 per cent votes.

In this curent by-triangular fight, no one can predict the results. On the other hand, no one can deny Sarkar’s chances.

It all seems headed for a photo-finish.

But we’ll have to wait for the final counting on 19 September. END

'Ghani' or CPM-- Malda to reply today

Manas R Bannerjee

MALDA, Sept. 15: Tomorrow’s Lok Sabha by-poll in Malda may have little impact on national politics, but it will definitely decide who stands where as far as Malda Lok Sabha constituency is concerned, especially in the absence of the late ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury In fact, this year’s by-poll in Malda is being perceived by many as a struggle among political parties ~ especially the Congress and the CPI-M ~ for their existence here. It may be recalled that in the last parliamentary election, the CPI-M had fielded a young DYFI leader, Mr Pranab Das, against the late Congress stalwart, ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury, in Malda. The CPI-M, then, had mocked at the age and alleged inability of the senior Congress leader, Ghani Khan Choudhury, saying “let the old leaves fall against the storm of youth.” However, Ghani Khan had proved his critics wrong by emerging victorious by a record margin of votes. In this year’s by-poll, however, it is the Malda CPI-M, which has made a U-turn by fielding veteran minister Mr Sailen Sarkar.Political observers feel that if the CPI-M candidate, Mr Sarkar, fails to wrest the Malda seat this time, his position in the party would be undermined. At the same time, this year’s by-poll will have a telling effect not only on the political future of the Malda Congress candidate, Mr AH Khan Choudhury, brother of Ghani Khan Choudhury, but also on his family’s clout over the district Congress. It may be recalled that ‘Dalu’ had failed to retain his Kaliachak Assembly seat after Ghani Khan Choudhury’s demise and has been nominated as the Congress candidate for the Malda by-poll despite his defeat. His failure in the by-poll now, it is feared, may result in the family’s loss of control over the district party unit. Reportedly, Mr AH Khan Choudhury’s sister and the Malda district Congress president, Mrs Rubi Noor, too may find her grip over the party slowly slipping away. With the Union minister, Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, taking the lead in campaigning, the factional feud in the district Congress would take a new dimension. In fact, some Congress members have already started exhibiting their support for the Union parliamentary affairs minister, Mr Das Munshi. #

Malda by-poll campaign ends

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 14: Political parties including Congress and the Left Front today ended its last campaign in English Bazaar town for Malda LS by-poll scheduled on 16 September. The Congress took out a big rally showcasing its candidate Mr AH Khan Choudhury in an open jeep along with another vehicle which was decorated with a series of photographs of the late MP, ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury. The Congress rally was accompanied by the Union minister I&B Mr PR Das Munshi, and former mayor of Kolkata Corporation, Mr Subrata Mukherjee and other top leaders from the state and districts. Similarly the CPIM and Left Front leaders took out several rallies to project their candidate Mr Sailen Sarkar, a senior CPI-M leader and state minister, across the Malda constituency. Several state level leaders were present including sports minister Mr Subhas Chakraborty to campaign for him. Mr Sarkar today ended his last campaign in Kaliachak and Sujapur areas where the late ABA Ghani Khan had had the last word always. Mr Sarkar today sent a message to the people via a local cable network channel saying why he was contesting in the poll and why people should cast votes against the brother of Ghani Khan in this by-poll. Mr Sarkar today called a press meet in the evening at the district party office to counter the Congress propaganda. On the other hand, the BJP candidate, Mr Biswapriya Roy Choudhury is playing the Hindu card to increase the percentage of votes in this by-poll criticising both the CPI-M and the Congress. The Congress today countered the CPI-M, reacting on some leaflets circulated by a group belonging to the CPI-M here expounding on the present top congress leaders’ bitter relation with the late Malda MP, Mr ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury.

Security beefed up

MALDA, Sept. 14: A total of 180 buses left for Murshidabad, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur and the northern part of Malda to pick up polling personnel to conduct Malda by-poll scheduled on 16 September, officials said. The district magistrate said that thousands of polling personnel from three districts will arrive here by 10.30 a.m. on Friday. Polling personnel will move from the Malda Polytechnic on Friday about 12.30 p.m. The polling personnel will be informed of their duties at the last moment when they will get final appointment letters just before their departure, said the district magistrate, Mr Chittaranjan Das. Special arrangements have been made for sending polling personnel to 59 remote polling stations in blocks where the polling personnel will move in advance separately. Besides motor vehicles, boats and bullock carts would be employed to cross rivers and muddy roads, he added. A total of 700 vehicles have been arranged for sending thousands of polling staff including the armed security personnel to different polling stations. There is also a communication network set up by the sector office with patrolling vans to monitor the situation and help stranded polling personnel to reach their destinations. “This is for the first time that we have circulated a guide line of the EC in Bengali and Hindi for the armed constables to elucidate what they are supposed to do on polling duty to maintain uniformity between the state armed police forces and the Central paramilitary forces,” said the district magistrate, Mr Chittaranjan Das. “Election commission instructed that the state and Central forces should perform their duty with the uniform guideline of the commission,” he added. There is also a notice to be displayed on the wall of each polling station for those without electoral photo identity cards describing the 13 alternative identity cards, the DM said. He added: “ Probably there is none in Malda constituency without those cards. We have already delivered 650 new electoral photo identity cards to all the applicants.” #

Sailen raps Congress

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 14: The CPI-M candidate for Malda Lok Sabha by-poll, Mr Sailen Sarkar, today accused the Malda Congress leaders of resorting to campaign on communal lines in the minority dominated belts here, in order bag maximum votes. Referring to the alleged deployment of moulavis for the by-poll campaign by the Malda Congress, the CPI-M candidate, Mr Sarkar, today said: “Malda Congress leaders have resorted to campaign on communal lines here. They have assigned a group of clerics to inform the minority voters to cast their votes in favour of the Congress candidate, Mr AH Khan Choudhury.”The Malda CPI-M candidate today strongly criticised Malda Congress candidate, Mr AH Khan Choudhury, saying that the latter had ultimately realised that the people would not vote for him in the Malda by-poll. So, the Congress candidate, Mr Sarkar alleged, was left with no alternative but to play the communal card, inspite of the fact that the party leaders claim themselves to be secular-minded. Mrs Rubi Noor, Congress district president, said: “We have not assigned any religious men for campaigns. Our elder brother (late ABA Ghnai Khan Choudhury) was secular and so is the Congress party.”

Congress banks on Ghani

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 13: Riding high on the sentimental void created by the death of ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury, the Malda Congress enters the Lok Sabha bypoll two days later.The party has left no stone unturned to retain the seat by garnering support from the voters.Today, three senior Congress leaders ~ Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, Mr Adhir Choudhury and Mr Subrata Mukherjee ~ campaigned extensively in the district, urging the voters to keep faith on the Congress and make its candidate, Mr Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, brother of the late Ghani Khan Choudhury, victorious. A section of Congress leaders, on condition of anonymity, said the “Friday factor” would also work in favour of Mr AH Khan Choudhury. “Ghani Khan used to approach the people for vote, via leaders of different mosques, a day before the poll. Since the bypoll is scheduled for Saturday this year, the family members of Ghani Khan could follow the suit,” they said.Meanwhile, dozens of leaflets circulated by the CPI-M, “exposing” the bitter relations between Mr Ghani Khan Choudhury and Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, has to some extent worried the Congress leaders here.Since Mr Das Munshi has been assigned by the Congress chief, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, to monitor the bypoll here, the Congress leaders apprehend that the “false campaign” launched by the CPI-M would harm the prospects of their candidate.“The CPI-M has been trying to malign the image of Mr Das Munshi in general and the Congress in particular. They, however, will not succeed in befooling the voters,” a senior Congress leader of Malda, said. The CPI-M leaders, however, are confident that Mr Sailen Sarkar will emerge victorious in the bypoll. “As a politician, Mr Sarkar is much more experienced than Mr Choudhury and he will definitely make a difference here this year in the absence of Ghani Khan Choudhury,” the LF chairman, Mr Biman Bose, said.

Mahajot of discord

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept 13: Though the Trinamul Congress supremo Miss Mamata Banerjee declared that her party would support the Congress in the Malda Lok Sabha by-poll scheduled for 16 September, no coordination between the Trinamul Congress and the Congress here is visible regarding poll campaign.

“No coordination exists between the Trinamul Congress and the Congress leaders here for the by-poll”, a senior Congress leader said.

The Union I&B minister, Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, however, is still upbeat about dislodging the Left Front in the state by 2011 on the basis of an understanding between the Trinamul Congress and the Congress here.

The Malda Trinamul Congress chief, Mr Dulal Sarkar, on the other hand, said: “We do not know what the future understanding between the Trinamul Congress and the Congress in Malda and in the state be like.

However, it is a fact that it is Malda Congress that has demoralised Trinamul Congress workers here politically.”

“Initially, we had planned to nominate our own candidate here. But now, we support neither the BJP nor the Congress. In fact, we have not even been approached by the Malda Congress leaders to support them in the by-poll campaign,” Mr Sarkar said.

Political observers beleive that a number of Trinamul Congress voters here may cast their vote in favour of the Malda Congress in the by-poll.#

Stage set for Malda by-poll

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept 12: The state’s chief electoral officer, Mr Debasis Sen and the inspector-general, Mr Raj Kanojia, today held a meeting to discuss measures for the smooth and proper conduction of the Malda Lok Sabha bypoll here scheduled for 16 September. Officials of the district election division, police, BSF, Central paramilitary forces (CPMF) and other departments concerned were present in the meeting today. The chief electoral officer, Mr Debasis Sen, later said officials concerned were given proper instructions about their polling duty, starting from three days prior to the by-poll and thereafter, so that voters can cast their votes peacefully with out fear. “Police officials will be posted at all polling stations here. A total of 22 companies of CPMF will be deployed to cover sensitive polling stations. Rest of the stations will be manned by state armed forces,” Mr Sen said. Mr Sen said that owing to the recent incidents of bombardment by terrorists in the country, adequate Central paramilitary forces were not available for the bypoll. “We planned to deploy paramilitary in those belts, where extremely stringent security measures are needed.” It was learnt that the Indo-Bangla border would be under strict vigilance on polling day. The IG, law and order, Mr Raj Kanojia, said: “Besides the paramilitary, there will be about 2,000 state armed police forces, Eastern Frontier Rifles and others at polling stations.” “The district police will no be deployed at polling stations. They will be stationed outside the polling stations and in specific areas in the constituency, maintaining liaison with the paramilitary,” Mr Raj Kanojia said. Meanwhile, Mr Sen today denied having received any complaint from the Malda Congress accusing Mr Sailen Sarkar, the CPI-M candidate for the Malda by-poll, of influencing voters and election officials, as stated by Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, the Union I&B and parliamentary affairs minister recently.

Pranab lambasts state govt

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 12: The Union defence minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, while addressing election rallies at Kaliachak and Sujapur last evening, alleged that the Left Front government in the state had failed to stand to the expectations of the people in its 30 years of ruling. Mr Mukherjee said that the state government had failed to do anything substantial for the development of industries in the region and rebuked the chief minister saying that mere signing of MoUs and attending foundation stone laying programmes could never ensure industrial development to the state. “The chief minister always says ‘do it now’, but his government fails to adhere to the policies,” Mr Mukherjee, said. Addressing election rallies at Baishnabnagar and adjoining areas, the minister, said: “Malda CPI-M leaders are trying hard to portray themselves as the successor of late ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury on the issue of development in this district. But this is being done only to win the bypoll. No development worth mentioning will be initiated by the CPI-M. It is only the Congress and its MP, who can successfully develop this region as per the dream and desire of the late Congress leader, Ghani Khan Choudhury”. Mr Pranab Mukherjee also criticised the state government’s policy to “grab” agricultural lands for the setting up of industries in South Bengal and at the same time, promised to oppose this move in every way possible. He alleged that the state government had also failed to utilise the Central assistance allotted for the poor people.“The state government has failed to properly implement the 100 days job guarantee programme as promised,” he alleged.Mr Mukherjee disagreed with the chief minister’s comment made against the border security forces and said that differences with the BSF would be sorted out with the help of the district monitoring committee constituted by public representatives.

Sub-inspector shot at accidentally

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 12: Assistant sub-inspector of police, Md Nijamuddin, was “accidentally” shot at by his colleague, Abdul Khaleque, at Manikchak today. The incident occurred when Abdul was loading bullets into his revolver, a police officer said. The Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said: “The accident occurred due to Abdul’s fault because he did not know the right method of loading bullets into his 9-mm service revolver. Doctors at Malda district hospital referred the injured policeman to Kolkata after they failed to remove the bullet from his body”. The two policemen were deployed here for the Malda Lok Sabha by-poll.”

Priya slammed for "maligning" CPM

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 11: The CPI-M leaders of Malda today reacted sharply to the Union I&B and parliamentary affairs minister, Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi’s allegation that Mr Sailen Sarkar, the CPI-M’s candidate for the Malda Lok Sabha bypoll, had been trying to influence the district administration officials and the election observers in the run-up to the polls. Mr Das Munshi had made this comment while addressing a Press conference here last Saturday. Mr Das Munshi had said that the Congress had brought the matter to the notice of the Election Commission, seeking the appointment of at least seven observers to conduct free and fair poll here. The Malda district secretary of the CPI-M, Mr Jiban Moitra, while rubbishing the allegation, said: “Mr Das Munshi has been trying to malign our party’s image by making baseless allegations. Being a Union minister, how can he hold meeting with the returning officer and observers? Is it not a violation of the EC’s model code of conduct?” The CPI-M leaders also said that the EC had decided to deploy Central paramilitary forces in 40 per cent polling stations, based on their observation and experiences from the last Assembly poll. “Our candidates will fare better if the EC deploys CPMF in all the polling stations. The LF workers do not fear the CMPF personnel which was proved in the last Assembly election,” Mr Shyamal Chakraborty, a CPI-M leader, said. Meanwhile, the chief minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s recent campaign here in favour of Mr Sailen Sarkar has apparently worried the Congress leaders here. Mr Bhattacharjee had blamed the Centre for massive erosion here, much to the chagrin of the Congress leaders. Counter-challenging the CM, Mr Das Munshi, said: “The state government could not utilise the allotted funds meant for the anti-erosion project, aggravating the erosion situation here.” He added: “In the Ninth Plan, a sum of Rs 17.88 crore and in the Tenth Plan, a sum of Rs 40.62 crore was allotted to West Bengal for anti-erosion measures, but the state government failed to check erosion. The Farakka Barrage Project had received Rs 75 crore in the 10th Plan and utilised Rs 42 crore properly. The remaining Rs 33 crore will be be spent later.” On the other hand, the CPI-M today circulated a leaflet here, claiming that Mr Sailen Sarkar, in the capacity of state parliamentary affairs minister, led a team of all political parties in New Delhi recently and discussed the erosion problem with the Union minister for water resources and development, Prof. Saifuddin Soz. The CPI-M has printed a group photograph, in which Mr Sarkar could be seen with Prof. Soz. To counter the CPI-M’s campaign, the Congress leaders are planning to bring Prof. Saiffudin Soz here to campaign in favour of the Congress candidate, Mr AH Khan Choudhury. They are also planning to invite Mr Santosh Mohan Deb, former Union water resources minister. Union defence minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee reached here today. He will be campaigning in rural belts.#

IMPS students boycott classes

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 11: Hundreds of students from Institute of Management and Professional Studies (IMPS), a private engineering college here, have gone for an indefinite boycott of classes accusing the college management of initiating a “fake campus placement programme”. Nearly 700 IMPS students have started the class boycott programme, which is being spearheaded by 43 students from the Computer and Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering and Electrical Engineering faculties. These students have demanded re-introduction of the “genuine” campus placement programme by the IMPS management before the completion of their final examinations. They alleged that the companies, which had recently undertaken the campus selection programme in collaboration with the IMPS management, were not genuine.An IMPS student, said: “Students who had appeared in the campus placement programme did receive appointment letters, but later it was found that the companies were fake. We will continue the class boycott programme until we receive a written assurance from our college placement cell for appointment.” Dr BP Sarkar, the principal of IMPS, said: “We will be forced to close down the college, if the students continue to boycott classes. Moreover, this agitation would only create a wrong impression about these students and the employers who had come here to recruit them would ultimately reject them.” Some faculty members said that the IMPS chairman, Mr B Bhattacharjee, was in Kolkata to rope in better companies for the campus placement programme for students here. “Allegations about the college management holding fake campus selection programme was incorrect,” Mr Sarkar added. “The truth is that none of the companies are interested in coming here for recruiting just 43 students. Moreover, many students were also disqualified owing to their poor educational background during recruitment,” said a senior teacher of IMPS.

Exodus of labour

These are harrowing times in Malda, writes Manas R Bannerjee

PRIME Minister Manmohan Singh described the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act as a “landmark in our history in removing poverty from the face of the nation”, because the scheme provides for 100 days of employment in a year to every rural household in 200 districts (Malda included) across the country. But for various reasons, it is not being implemented properly in Malda and thousands of labourers are leaving in search of jobs elsewhere.The scheme — involving creation of new rural infrastructure, improvement of road connectivity, school buildings, and the creation of water sources for irrigation — has been stalled in all blocks for the moment due to notification of the Lok Sabha by-poll scheduled for 16 September. The areas not under the Malda LS constituency in this district have come under the EC guideline. Thousands of day labourers did not get jobs for aman transplantation and jute retting due to a severe drought-like situation in July and August and, on the other hand, there was no successful implementation of the NREGA. Even though the motto of the scheme is to focus on the “poorest of the poor” and provide livelihood security, prevent distress migration and eradicate the scourge of poverty, disease and indebtedness, nothing has been achieved here since for the past year. In Malda there are 80, 419 marginal workers and 1.7 lakh non-workers (65.31 per cent of the total population based on the 1991 Census 1991). As per the 2001 Census, the district’s total population is 30.49 lakh.The exodus of labourers came to light during the election campaign when political leaders found their voters had left the district and would not return before the by-poll. Left leaders were worried, particularly by the exodus from the Barind belt, a red bastion. They criticised the Election Commission for implementing such a code of conduct and tried hard to implement the 100-days wage employment programme to get labourers’ votes.District magistrate Chittaranjan Das agreed there was a problem but expressed his inability to do anything. He said, “Day labourers will have to go to other states where they will be intercepted by police as Bangladeshi nationals. Some of them will die in accidents and some will fall ill or bring diseases like HIV here.” It may be recalled that the district administration was in trouble to prove the “Indian” identity of over 35 Malda labourers arrested by the Mumbai police on the suspicion of being Bangladeshis. In a separate incident, more than 10 Malda labourers were killed in a building collapse in New Delhi just before the assembly election. It is also true that the district authorities tried hard to implement the 100-day job scheme for landless labourers but this was not implemented in many blocks because of technical reasons and the inefficiency of block officials. The allotted funds were returned from the blocks. For example, Habibpur block in Barind belt received nearly Rs 14 crore for implementing the scheme. At the last meeting the district magistrate detected a huge amount of unutilised funds in this block. Though the block development officer was asked to prepare a 100-day guarantee scheme to utilise at least Rs 9 crore, the district authorities finally did not approve of it. The reason? “The BDO had failed to prepare the scheme following the NREGA guideline.”On the other hand, 105 labourers, under the CPI-M-L (Liberation) banner, staged an agitation in Kaliachak II block and 54 of them managed job cards from the BDO on 12 August. But they have not got jobs till date. As a result, all 54 of them, led by Raja Bali, are planning to demand compensation from the government. The NREGA rules state that if the government fails to provide jobs for at least 14 days within 15 days from the date of registration (issue date of job cards) it would have to arrange compensation.As for the fate of job card-holders who have not been given employment by the government, one will have to wait and see.

Published on 8 Sept,2006 ( N B Extra)

Medics take on cop, Malda police station IC accused of misbehaviour

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 10: Members of the Indian Medical Association, Malda branch, today lodged a complaint with the Malda SP, accusing the inspector-in-charge of English Bazaar police station of misbehaving with them. The secretary of Malda IMA, Dr Niladri Saha, alleged that the I-C had misbehaved with the doctors when they (the doctors) had gone to the police station to lodge a complaint against a few hoodlums who attacked the house of a doctor in English Bazaar town on Friday after the death of a baby under controversial circumstances. “Since our security was at stake and the I-C refused to take note of the situation, we were forced to lodge a complaint against him with the Malda SP,” Dr Saha said. The copies of the complaint letter have also been sent to the state officials, including the director of health services. Locals had attacked the house of Dr Subhalakshmi Roy Choudhury and ransacked her private chamber after the death of an eight-month-old baby on Friday. The baby, suffering from breathing problems allegedly died soon after receiving a dose of injection prescribed by Dr Roy Choudhury. Dr Roy Choudhury and the mother of the deceased baby had lodged separate complaints with the English Bazaar police station. While the former had lodged the complaint against the attackers, the latter had filed her complaint against Dr Roy Choudhury. “We are waiting for the post-mortem report,” the I-C of English Bazaar police station, said. The Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said he had ordered a probe into the I-C’s alleged misbehaviour. “We must look into such complaints seriously after a thorough investigation,” Mr Mondal, said

Teachers' stir today

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 10: Members of Progressive Platform of Technical Teachers and Staff will go for a half-day cease work on tomorrow in all the polytechnic institutes of the state, demanding that the contractual staff be offered permanent jobs. Addressing a Press conference here today, secretary of the PPTTS, Mr Arindam Biswas, said they would press the government to recruit permanent teachers and staff in Polytechnic institutes of the state, where over 400 posts are lying vacant, and immediately abolish the appointment of contractual junior teachers and staff. Mr Biswas claimed that the state finance minister had assured in his speech in assembly just before the assembly poll 2006, that the government would appoint the contractual teachers as permanent ones, but no initiative was taken to implement it till date. “There has been no recruitment in the last 10 years in Polytechnic institutes of the state, except the appointment of a foreman in Malda Polytechnic recently”, Mr Biswas alleged. A part time teacher of Malda Polytechnic, said: “We get a mere Rs 7 per class as remuneration. The total income of a junior lecturer (contractual) is less than Rs 1,200 per month on an average.” “The government should execute consolidated pay of Rs 8,000 for junior lecturers”, Mr Biswas, secretary of the PPTTS, Malda Polytechnic unit, said. A total of 32 permanent posts are lying vacant in Malda Polytechnic, they said. #

Central forces for Malda bypoll

Statesman News Service

MALDA , Sept 9.— Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, Union I&B and parliamentary affairs minister, said today that the Malda Congress had asked the Election Commission to appoint seven observers for the seven Assembly constituencies before conducting Malda Lok Sabha bypoll scheduled for 16 September. Addressing a Press conference, Mr Das Munshi said: “Only one observer is not adequate for the Malda LS constituency, comprising seven Assembly segments, to monitor “undue political influence” over voters, particularly on the day of polling by the state parliamentary affairs minister , Mr Sailen Sarkar , who is contesting as the CPI(M) candidate in this bypoll. Mr. Das Munshi alleged “ Mr. Sarkar is still utilising his influences as state minister in Malda parliamentary constituency by adopting various method to bag votes”. “Our AICC leaders have also taken up the matter with the EC”, Mr. Das Munshi added. “Demanding adequate central para-military forces for all polling stations in Malda, we have sent a letter to the EC mentioning specific complaints against the CPI-M candidate, who is still using his ministerial powers,” the Union minister , in charge of Malda by-poll for the Congress, said. According to the district election officer , the EC would send only 22 companies of CPMF (Central Para-military Forces), for the Malda bypoll that would cover only 40 per cent of the total polling stations. The district election officer has planned to bring state police forces from outside the district to cover the rest ( 60 per cent ) of the polling stations. “We are reluctant to appoint state police forces in the remaining 60 per cent polling stations and are demanding more CPMF for conducting the by-election peacefully . The CPI-M may take to rigging and capturing polling stations in absence of the CPMF”, Mr Das Munshi repeatedly stressed. “I will not criticise the EC for not allotting adequate CPMF for the Malda bypoll, but will demand more forces in the state for conducting the bypoll,” Mr Das Munshi told The Statesman. Mr Das Munshi also alleged that the CPI-M backed trade union leaders distributed “forged” government “labour cards” among the voters recently, but the administration could not arrest a single culprit, including the press owner, where the cards were printed illegally. “LF leaders are campaigning among the voters by offering job opportunities in Integrated Child Development Schemes (ICDS) and also primary schools”, the Union minister claimed. The administration had published advertisements seeking applications for various posts in ICDS, just before the notification of Assembly election. The entire process was stalled due to the notification of Assembly poll. But before the notification of the Malda bypoll, the department had issued interview letters to the applicants and cancelled the date of interview due to the bypoll.

Buddha for Third Front at Centre

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept 8: Chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is still hoping to form a Third Front at the Centre as an alternative to the UPA and NDA. Addressing a Lok Sabha bypoll rally at Sujapur in Kaliachak Assembly segment today, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said: “We wanted to form a third front but were finally faced with two options either to support Dr Manmohan Singh or Mr AB Vajpayee to form a government at the Centre. We had to support Dr Manmohan Singh to form the UPA under the leadership of the Congress to save the country from the hands of the BJP, which is a communal force.” Mr Bhattacharjee, however, expressed his desire for a Third Front and added: “We will have to form the Third Front with the help of the people and a continuous struggle by the people.” The chief minister apparently succeeded in earning a lot of local support by attacking the USA at Sujapur, a Muslim -dominated Congress belt where Ghani Khan Choudhury used to be the last word in politics. “We will not tolerate the dictatorship of the USA,” he said, pointing out the present situation of Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Israel and the relation between the Manmohan Singh government and Mr Gorge Bush. The chief minister directly attacked the Congress candidate Mr AH Khan Choudhury, brother of ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury, and said: “He does not have the ability to deliver a speech in Delhi on behalf of the Malda people.” Paying full respect to Ghani Khan Choudhury, the CM said: “Ghani Khan was a man of great stature. His brother comes nowhere near to Khan saheb. Our candidate is better than him and is next to the late Ghani Khan Choudhury as far as Malda’s development is concerned,” the CM added. “We need to increase our strength in Delhi so that the Congress can not adopt any anti-people policy,” Mr Bhattacherjee urged. The chief minister was sensitive to local issues and assured to extend government help in upgrading basic amenities and the silk-manufacturing units at Kaliachak. In all the three bypoll rallies attended by him, the chief minister did not hesitate to blame the Congress and its leader Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi on the issue of erosion and said: “The Farakka Barrage Project, which was built during the Congress period in the 70s, is responsible for the massive erosion in the Malda region.”#

Priya salvo at CM

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept 8: Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, Union I&B and parliamentary minister, has sharply reacted to chief minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s comment over the Farakka Barrage Project in his speech during the bypoll rally in Malda yesterday. Mr Das Munshi today said: “ I disagree with the chief minister, who criticised the Farakka Barrage Project executed by the Central government. Mr Bhattacharjee described the FBP as a ‘faulty” project. He alleged that this project was largely responsible for the massive erosion that occurred on the left bank of the Ganges in this region”. The CM had reportedly pointed out the failure of the Central government in stemming erosion after taking the responsibility it its own hands and criticised the former Union water resources minister, Mr Das Munshi. Following this, Mr Das Munshi, allegedly took a strong resentment to the CM’s comment and said: “The CM should not forget that his predecessor, Mr Jyoti Basu, played a pivotal role in the water treaty with Bangladesh on the FBP.” “Why does he now blame the FBP, when everybody knows its importance?,” Mr Das Munshi asked. “Until now, only Jamat-e-Islami in Bangladesh had objected to FBP. Now, our CM too has echoed the same sentiments. He should have learnt from Mr Basu before passing any comment on FBP because West Bengal reaped maximum benefits from this project,” Mr Das Munshi said. The Union minister accused the state government for its failure to complete Teesta Project in north Bengal.#

CM’s convoy disrupts traffic

MALDA, Sept. 8: The CM, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s convoy to Sujapur here early this morning disrupted traffic movement for hours on NH 34. Hundreds of lorries and private vehicles were stranded for hours on NH 34 today as the CM’s convoy was scheduled to pass through this route to Sujapur, where he was to campaign for the CPI-M for Malda bypoll. n SNS

Malda laboureers thank CM

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 8: A group of local labourers met the chief minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, in English Bazaar today and and thanked him for facilitating their release from Mumbai jail in Maharastra recently. Mumbai police had arrested about 35 labourers from Malda, who had gone to Mumbai in search of jobs, alleging them to be Bangladeshi nationals. These labourers were later produced in court so that they could be kept in jail custody. Even the district administration’s initiative to release them failed. The matter was, however, taken up at the Writer’s Buildings following the intervention of political leaders. It was after the CM’s intervention that chief secretary Mr AK Deb initiated a dialogue with the Maharashtra government on this issue. Finally, a team of lawyers were sent to Mumbai, who got the labourers released from Mumbai jail some days ago. The labourers from Malda had requested the CM to transfer their case from Mumbai Court to Calcutta High Court.

Primary school inaugurated in Old Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept 8: A primary school for child labourers was inaugurated by the commandant of the state arms police, Mr TF Sherpa, today at Mangalbari in Old Malda. Inaugurating the primary school, Mr Sherpa said: “The school was earlier situated within the FCI depot, but following objection from FCI general manager, we had to make an alternative arrangement and thus constructed a temporary shed outside the depot.” Mr Sherpa distributed education materials to 200 child labourers at another school in Narayanpur, Kaliachak. Mr Sherpa said that five such schools had been set up at Malda, two schools in North Dinajpur district and two such schools in South Dinajpur in the last three months. The students here are taught by Army personnel. “Our men have been instructed to enroll child labourers and dropout students working in tea stalls, hotels and other such sectors for primary education,” Mr Sherpa said.

CM flays UPA wheat policy

MALDA, Sept. 7: Chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today criticised the UPA government’s policy to import wheat from foreign countries to meet the food crisis. He said that by importing wheat, the government had been ignoring the development of the agricultural sector, thereby “cheating” farmers. Addressing a rally at Araidanga in the run-up to the Malda Lok Sabha bypoll today, the chief minister, said: “I had warned the Prime Minister against wheat import and told him that we would not support the government if it continues to import wheat from foreign countries.” Lambasting the Centre for its apparent failure on the agricultural front, Mr Bhattacharjee said: “There has been no agricultural development and the public distribution system has been paralysed, resulting in a food crisis.” The chief minister praised Communist-ruled China, saying that: “Unlike India, there is no unemployment and poverty in China.” Mr Bhattacharjee canvassed for the CPI-M candidate, Mr Sailen Sarkar. Though the chief minister paid tributes to ABA Ghani Khan Chowdhury, he asked voters not to trust the former MP’s brother and Congress candidate Mr AH Khan Choudhury.n SNS

Pic: Pralependu Sanyal

Tight security cover for Malda by-poll

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 7: The state’s chief secretary, Mr AK Deb, today held a meeting with officials of the Malda district administration, including the DM and the SP, to review law and order situation ahead of the Lok Sabha bypoll here. The Malda DM, Mr Chittaranjan Das, said that the Election Commission would send 22 companies of Central paramilitary forces to conduct the bypoll here. “The CPMF personnel will cover 40 per cent of the total polling stations. The state police will man the rest of the polling stations, who are scheduled to arrive from North Doinajpur, South Dinajpur and Murshidabad districts,” Mr Das said. “The local police will not be deployed in the polling stations following the EC’s guideline. They will patrol on roads and will maintain law and order outside the polling stations. The CPMF personnel will be posted mainly in the ‘sensitive’ booths. All the polling stations have been identified as ‘sensitive’,” said Mr Das . Similarly, over 5,000 polling personnel will come from outside the district. Over 30 police officials have been transferred from Malda, following the EC’s instruction, the DM said. The Union I&B and parliamentary affairs minister, Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, had expressed his unhappiness yesterday over the deployment of state police for the bypoll here.

Priya's clarion call for by-poll

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 6: The Union I&B and parliamentary affairs minister, Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, today urged the Congress workers to work hard for the Malda Lok Sabha bypoll and ensure that the party retains the seat “at any cost”. Addressing a workers’ meeting in favour of the Congress candidate at Old Malda, Mr Das Munshi, said: “Malda, Murshidabad and North Dinajpur districts are the Congress belts, and we will have to win the seat in the interest of the party in the national level. The political equation is changing in West Bengal as well as in the country. I will not disclose everything right now but the Congress will revive in the state by 2011,” the minister said. Meanwhile, the Malda Congress leaders have also approached Mr Rahul Gandhi to campaign here for the Congress candidate, Mr AH Khan Choudhury. Mr Mostaque Alam, a local Congress leader said: “The date for the proposed road show by Mr Rahul Gandhi has so far not been confirmed. Mr Das Munshi will campaign here till 10 September, and will be coming back for the last phase of election campaign. Mr Adhir Choudhury, the Murshidabd MP, has also been campaigning here these days. The Union defence minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, will reach here on 11 September. The Union minister for coal, Mr Sibu Soren, and the Union water resources minister, Mr Saifuddin Soze, have also been urged to campaign here.” The Congress had also tried to rope in Govinda, an MP and Bollywood star, but since he is out of country for shooting, the plan did not materialise, sources said. Mr Masidur Rahman, the chief election agent of the Congress candidate, Mr AH Khan Choudhury, said: “This election is very tough because it is a fight between money and image. Our election agents are receiving phone calls from CPI-M men in the midnight. The callers offer them money so that they can work for the CPI-M.” The CPI-M district secretary, Mr Jiban Moitra, on his part, said: “The Congress leaders are playing defensive. They are worried about election results in absence of the late Ghani Khan Choudhury. Some of them have been demoralised.” The CPI-M today, lodged a complaint with the district election officer against the security personnel, Mr AHE Tessamuddin, a government employee, appointed for the Congress candidate. It was alleged that the security personnel of Mr Choudhury has been campaigning directly in favour of the latter.

Erosion at Kaliachak

Statesman News Service

MALDA Sept. 6: Anti-erosion work, carried out last year, along the bankline of the Ganges at Bangitola in Kaliachak II was washed away due to a heavy erosion last night, officials said today. Officials said that over 1,000 square metres of boulder-pitching work, completed last year to protect the bankline, got eroded away due to heavy fluctuation in water level of the Ganges here. They warned that damage of the anti-erosion work last night, coupled with inadequate maintenance, has made the region highly vulnerable. State irrigation officials said in the next five days the water level of the Ganges is expected to rise due to heavy showers in its upper catchments a few days ago. A senior official of the Malda irrigation department said: “This particular stretch of land here is being considered vulnerable because the safe distance between the state highway and the bankline of the Ganges is only about 1,500 metres.” Villagers residing in regions adjoining the Ganges here had to shift base earlier apprehending erosion on the left bank of the river. Few families still residing in the area have, reportedly, got their bags packed to shift to a safer zone seeing the present trend of erosion in the Ganges. It was learnt that block officials rushed to the areas adjoining the Ganges to help families shift base from there last night. But, thankfully the erosion in the Ganges lasted only for an hour.

CM to campaign for LS by-poll

Statesman News Service

MALDA ,Sept. 4: Chief minister Mr Budhhadeb Bhattacherjee is scheduled to reach Malda on Thursday to campaign for the Lok Sabha bypoll in favour of CPI-M candidate Mr Sailen Sarkar. The Congress workers are concerned about the chief minister’s proposed Malda trip, as the former had made a strong impact during his campaign for the recently concluded Assembly polls. The CM had stated during the poll campaign that only the Left Front was capable of fulfilling the dreams of the late Ghani Khan Choudhury. The CM had made the statement in Kaliachak, from where Ghani Khan’s younger brother, Mr AH Khan Choudhury, had subsequently lost in the Assembly polls. Mr AH Khan Choudhury is the Congress candidate for the Lok Sabha bypoll also. Although the state Congress leaders held a meeting in Kaliachak and told the people that Mr Bhattacherjee or the Left Front could not bring development, the Congress workers are not ready to take the LF threat casually. They are leaving no stone unturned to garner support from the people. Both the CPI-M and Congress had projected photographs of late ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury yesterday but election officials removed some hoardings put up by the Congress from few places. The CPI-M has also circulated photographs of Mr Ghani Khan which has not come under the notice of the election officials. “If we get such complaint we will take immediate action,” said the SDO, Mrs Arunima De. Many people have received photographs showing Mr Sailen Sarkar shaking hands with Ghani Khan Choudhury.#

Pic Anindiata Ray

Roadblock on NH-34 paralyses traffic

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept 4: Hundreds of exporters and local residents jointly organised a roadblock on NH-34 at Sustani here demanding immediate repair of the national highway connecting the Indo-Bangladesh border for a hassle-free export. Officials said that due to the roadblock, traffic movement was paralysed between the on the national highway for about two hours today. Members of the Malda Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce (MMCC) said that they had apprised the DM that failure to adhere to their request for road repair would goad them to orgainse a massive movement. They complained that the particular route in question has got severely damaged due to the monsoon rains and was in need of immediate repair. The MMCC members stated that they had also complained to the PWD minister a few days ago, and that the DM told them that the administration was unable to take note of their problem now because of the ensuing Lok Sabha by-poll here. The district magistrate, Mr CR Das, had informed MMCC members that the road would be repaired under the Asian Development Bank project soon, for which concerned departments have already been asked to remove electric poles and trees in order to widen the roads. Mrs Arunima De, SDO (Sadar), said: “The condition of the road connecting Bangaldesh is deplorable. We are taking up this matter, so that the local PWD (roads) repair the road as soon as possible”. “Since the repair of this national highway has been included under a big project (North South Corridor Development project assisted by ADB), the PWD is allegedly not interested in spending money here. But it is important that the road be repaired as soon as possible for the convenience of the people and facilitation of exports to Bangladesh”.

Pic: Anindita Ray

Extortion in the name of subscription !

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 3: A few Durga Puja committees have allegedly started demanding subscription from the residents on the basis of the area of their flats in English Bazaar town. The matter came to light after a clash between two puja committees ~ Santi Bharati Parishad and United Members’ Forum ~ on the issue of finalising the rate of subscription based on the carpet area of a flat in their locality. Reacting to the allegation, the Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said : “We have got the information but no complaint has so far been lodged with the police. We are keeping a close eye on the situation. We must take action against them if we receive any complaint of extortion in the name of subscription by the Durga Puja committees.” Though the members of the SBP have refuted the allegation, it was reported that six persons were injured and one of them ~ Tarun Podder ~ had to be admitted to hospital in the last week of August after a clash over puja subscription. A flat owner, Mr Rintu Mukherjee, was also assaulted for protesting against the rate of subscription on the basis of per square foot area of a flat. Mr Mukherjee is the secretary of the Flat Owners’ Association. Local CPI-M councillor had expressed her concern over the alleged inaction of the police to take action against the accused persons. Members of the SBP claimed that they were prevented by the members of United Forum from collecting subscription. “There was no question of extortion”, they said. The Malda SP said it was nothing but a “minor clash”. #

Malda seeks Central forces
Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 3: The Malda district administration is leaving no stone unturned to ensure a free and fair Lok Sabha by-poll here.As a part of its mission to conduct peaceful polls, the district administration has planned to deploy both Central para military forces and state police in the polling stations to conduct the by-poll, Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said. “We have not received any information from our higher authorities regarding availability of CPMF personnel. A proposal has been sent to the authorities about the requirement of at least three armed forces in each polling station,” the SP said. Deployment of large number of CPMF in sensitive booths will depend on availability, he added.#

Minor girl raped in Bamongola
Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 3: An eight-year-old-girl was allegedly raped in Malda’s Bamongola police station area today.A case has been registered against a 20-year-old-boy for allegedly raping the minor girl, police said. “We are waiting for the medical report. The incident took place when the girl was alone in her house,” police said.

Malda Consumers' Forum slaps a fine on doctor

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 1: Malda Consumers’ Forum protection court today slapped a fine of Rs nine lakh on a doctor as compensation to the kin of a patient, who died at a nursing home here last year allegedly because of the doctor’s negligence. The forum has ordered the doctor to pay the compensation to the recipient within a period of two months, failing which he would be charged for the delay too. The MCF members informed that one Shiuli Mjumdar had wanted to abort her pregnancy legally and sought Dr M Dargahi’s suggestion and expertise in this matter. So, Shiuli got herself admitted in a nursing run by the doctor in the first month of January 2005 for abortion. It was learnt that Shiuli was re-admitted in the same nursing home later due to some health problems.She was re-aborted on 12 January at the same nursing home, following which her condition allegedly deteriorated. Shiuli was next admitted at a private nursing home in Kolkata, where it was learnt, she suffering from an infection caused due to the double abortion that had to be conducted allegedly because of the doctor’s negligence. Shiui succumbed to her infection at the nursing home in Kolkata finally. Following Shiuli’s death, her husband, Mr Kanchan Majumder and her five year-old child, Mohini, lodged a complaint with the MCF on 9 November 2005 against DrDargahi for alleged negligence that caused the patient’s death. Dr SK Jana of NRS Medical College and Hospital stand in favour of the victim in this case lodged with MCF. On the other hand, the accused had Dr Mahamaya Sarkar and Dr Pradip Roy Choudhury from Kolkata in his favour. The verdict on Dr Dargahi was passed by Judges ~ Mr Samir Chakraborty and Ms Sumana Das. Dr Dargahi told reporters that he would approach the state forum seeking justice in this case.

Water level of Ganga recedes

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 1: District officials heaved a sigh of relief after the water level of the Ganga receded from 24.50 metres to 24.46 metres today. The sudden rise in the water level of the Ganga lately had worried the district administration about the possibility of flood here. They had, thus, alerted people residing in areas adjoining the river bank and asked them to be ready to shift base anytime for safety.The Malda district administration, it was learnt, was also worried that flood just prior to the Malda Lok Sabha by-poll scheduled for 16 September would only spell more trouble for them. A senior engineer of the Malda irrigation division said: “The sudden rise of water level in Ganga was allegedly due to release of huge quantum of water from the three dams located in its upper catchment area, including Nepal”. “River Gandak was brimming allegedly due to the water released from the Balmikinagar dam in Nepal. Whereas, rivers Sone and Kosi were overflowing due to water released from the Indrapuri and Mahakali dams few days ago”, the engineer said. “The people of Malda need not worry about floods for the moment, but the water level of the Ganga may rise again in mid-September because of the receding monsoon,” the executive engineer of the Malda irrigation division, said.Irrigation experts, however, fear that receding trend of water level of the Ganga may aggravate he erosion problem on its left in this region.