Invitation matters for MZP official

Statesman News Service

MANIKCHAK (Malda), June 11: Mr Goutam Chakraborty, sabhadhipati of the Malda zilla parishad today stayed off the dais of a “records of rights” distribution programme despite requests by panchayat officials and the land and land reforms commissioner Mr PK Agarwal. The reason, his name was not printed in the invitation card as guest. The Manikchak panchayat samiti, run by the CPI-M, today organised a “records of rights” distribution programme at Manikchak block and printed the names of different dignitaries including that of the government officials on the invitation cards. The sabhadhipati’s name, however, was conspicuously absent from the card and CPI-M MLA and minister Mr Sailen Sarkar was not invited at all. Mr Chakraborty, who attended the programme, decided to sit among the audience with media persons ignoring the requests of the officials present to take a seat on the dais. The congress leader also accepted the felicitation sitting in the audience and delivered his speech from there. In his speech he requested the land and land reforms commissioner to take the initiative to distribute ‘records of rights’ to those affected by the erosion of the Ganga and Fulohar rivers.He also urged the government officials to send the list of the ‘patta’ holders to the MZP so that they can provide further financial assistance.Addressing the programme Mrs Madhabi Choudhury, sabhapati of Manikchak block tendered apology for leaving the sabhadipati’s name out of the card. “We are sorry for the mistake and apologise. The programme was organised locally by the samiti. There was no intention to leave out the sabhadhipati,s name,” she said. The CPI-M MLA, Mrs Asima Choudhury, also appeared taken aback by the miss. “Had I known it I would have pointed them to include the sabhadipati’s name,” she said.The Malda district magistrate, Mr CR Das, said: “Five hundred and sixty one landless received record of rights today.” According to him, 321.53-acre of land was distributed equally among the 561 landless farmers in 10-gram panchayats. Each recipient got nearly 3 acres of land for cultivation in 10 maoujas of the block. Of the lot, 13 deeds of rights were issued in the name of women members of respective families.