MALDA, Feb 17: A group of Congress leaders have criticised the decision of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) to call a 12-hour strike in Malda district on 21 February. The strike has been called in protest at the Indian Railway Board's decision to form a new railway division based in Bhagalpur, Bihar.
INTUC called the strike yesterday evening, arguing that the proposed division would reduce the present territory of the Malda railway division. The English Bazaar Congress MLA Mr Krishnendu Choudhury said: “INTUC has no justification to call a strike. The former railway minister ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury formed the Malda railway division, reducing the territory of another division. “The railway minister Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav will add the reduced areas from West Bengal to maintain the Malda railway division's present activities”, he said. "INTUC called the strike without consulting the district Congress president. The Malda MP Mr AH Khan Choudhury instructed us not to proceed with a movement now, and we are finding it difficult to explain its justification,” said Mr Ujjal Sheikh, the working president of Chharta Parishad. The INTUC district president Mr Narendranath Tiwari, also the chairman of the English Bazaar Municipality (EBM), said: “I took the decision to call the 12-hour Malda bandh when I saw that other political parties (the Trinamul Congress and CPI-M) were trying to catch the issue politically.”
“I spoke to the Malda MP over the phone from Delhi this morning. He suggested that I wait until this evening before undertaking the movement. He is attempting to meet Mr Lalu Prasad, Mr Pranab Mukherjee and Mrs Sonia Gandhi today to address the issue,” Mr Tiwari said. “After discussing the matter with Dalu-da (MP for Malda) we will take a final decision as to whether we can call off the strike,” he added. BJP district leaders have extended support to the 12-hour bandh. The general secretary of the Malda BJP Mr Amlan Bhaduri said: “We know the decision to call a strike was simply a drama. But we have decided to extend our support because the decision to form a new division was taken while the Congress is in power.”
After launching the agitation on Saturday, the Trinamul leaders met the Malda divisional railway manager yesterday and submitted a deputation demanding the inclusion of new areas in West Bengal. “The Divisional Railway Manager admitted the move to form the new division and stated that he would send their proposals to the railway board,” said Mr Dulal Sarkar, district president of the Trinamul Congress.
CPI-M and LF leaders are expected to attend a convention called by the Malda Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce (MMCC). n SNS
No comments:
Post a Comment