Statesman News Service
MALDA, Feb. 28: An indefinite strike, demanding punishment for Mr Asok Saha, a Congress councillor, called by the cleaning staff of the conservancy department, which is under the leadership of the CPI-M, and internal discord has put the authorities of the English Bazaar Municipality (EBM) in a tight spot.Today is the second day of the agitation in front of the English Bazaar Municipality by the CPI-M led contractual and permanent sweepers demanding punishment of Mr Ashok Saha, a congress councillor from ward no. 4. They workers have called an indefinite strike from today.The CPI-M leaders today informed the civic body chief Mr Narendra-nath Tiwari that workers in other departments like water and electricity department would also join the indefinite strike demanding punishment for Mr Saha, if the civic authorities do not take action against him.It was alleged that a group of people led by Ashok Saha beat up the sweepers engaged in cleaning drains and drove them out of wa-rd no. 4 a few days ago.Interestingly, Mr Saha and his people barged into the EBM office and ransacked the office furniture in the general sections on 25 February.When the municipality employees’ Union led mainly by the CPI-M had lodged protest against the nuisance, a group of people staged demonstration in front of the EBM office claiming Mr Asok Saha's innocence.The chairman of the civic body, Mr Narendranath Tiwari said: “We are facing a lot of trouble to manage this critical situation. However, we are trying hard to call off the strike by continuing dialogue with their leaders. I have informed the party leaders about the matter and sought their in-tervention to tackle internal problems.”The EBM is in trouble since the Congress, BJP and Trinamul councillors came to power after dislodging the CPI-M. The district Congress leaders in Malda had to issue a show cause notice to Mr Asok Saha on charges of non-cooperation with the civic body chief.Due to internal squabbling among the members of the ruling board the CPI-M has taken opportunity to expose the matter to people by staging a protest. #
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