Civic amenities first , bypolls later

MALDA, April 7: The residents of Singhia village in Chanchal have decided to boycott the upcoming Kharba bypolls in favour of their demand for civic amenities like drinking water, roads and electricity in the area. The area falls under the Kharba Assembly segment. While Mr Abdul Khaleque, the Trinamul Congress candidate from the area has urged the voters to reconsider their decision, Mr Dulal Sarkar, president, district Trinamul Congress claimed that his party workers have assured the agitators to extend all cooperation in the area with the assistance of Miss Banerjee’s MPLAD fund. However, The villagers, who have had a bitter experience with the Congress in the past, are far from convinced. Mr Debasish Sarkar, SDO, Chanchal today said that he did not have any official information on the matter. “If they had officially informed me about their decision to boycott the bypolls, I would have urge them not to waste their democratic rights,” Mr Sarkar said. According to him, besides Singhia, the villagers of Sreepur in Ratua Block are also reportedly contemplating a similar action. “They boycotted the pulse polio immunisation programme to stress their demand for civic amenities,” Mr Sarkar said.A large number of people yesterday, blocked the National Highway at Naldubbi under Old Malda Block in demand of civic amenities including primary education. They have decided to boycott the upcoming panchayat polls. n sns