Uncle-niece contest hots up as confusion reigns

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 31: Confusion reigns supreme for the Congress in the North Malda constituency. While the party's district vice president Mr Masidur Rahman today said that the nominated candidate Miss Mausam Noor today had received the party symbol from the high command, the party's district secretary Mr Hassan Ali Shah said that the statement was a lie.

Mr Shah, who is close to the other contender and Miss Noor's maternal uncle Dr AN Khan Choudhury, said: “The vice-president is lying. We held a meeting in the party office in presence of the vice president. He was told not to comment on the matter of the symbol but he chose to do so. Dr Khan Choudhury will meet Mrs Sonia Gandhi to hear the final decision. We will abide by whatever she says,” he said.

Mr Shah, however, refrained from elaborating on whether Dr Khan Choudhury, who has reportedly hinted about contesting from the constituency as an Independent candidate if the Congress refused to nominate him, would really do so. “The matter has not been finalised,” he said.

Dr Khan Choudhury's desperate attempt to secure a ticket has exposed a family feud upsetting not only Miss Noor but also other Congress leaders including the Malda Congress MP and district Congress president Mr AH Khan Choudhury.

Miss Noor told reporters today: “The developments are sending a wrong message to the voters. We will try to sort out the problem soon with Dr Khan Choudhury.”

With the candidate fiasco still on, the Congress has not been able to launch a full-scale campaign in North Malda. The district Congress president had decided to organize a meeting today with the district leaders to project Miss Noor and formulate strategies for the polls. The meeting did not take place as the district president, who is also the South Malda candidate, left his home in the morning to campaign in his constituency. This indicates that the candidature controversy in North Malda is still far from over.

Smuggled cattle returned to BSF

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 31: This is the first time the Bangladesh Rifles have seized smuggled cattle in their villages and handed them over to the Border Security Force, said Mr GC Nayek, the commanding officer of 123-Battalion BSF, today.

The BSF had alerted the BDR to the smuggled cattle coming through their borders after failing to capture the smugglers on the Indian side of the border. According to Mr Nayek, around 3.30 a.m., the BSF jawan near Mahadipur in English Bazaar failed to prevent eight heads of cattle from entering into Bangladesh, smuggled by three Indian smugglers. At around 7.30 a.m. the BSF requested the commander of Sailmara BOP in Bangladesh to conduct a search operation to spot the smuggled cattle. By 9.30 a.m. they had handed the cattle over to the BSF.

“The BDR jawans under the Sailmara BOP near Naogaon in Chapai Nwabganj district in Bangladesh conducted search operations in the smugglers' villages, seized the cattle and handed them over to the BSF,” Mr Nayek said.

“The BDR not only returned the cattle but promised that they will carry on doing so in the future and pledged to stop the smuggling trade. There can now be coordination between the BSF and BDR,” said Mr Nayek.

The BSF have traditionally blamed the BDR for assisting Indian and Bangladeshi smugglers. The BSF allege that they had previously been forced to open fire on the BDR, after catching them assisting cattle smugglers. The former DIG of Malda BSF sector had consequently sent a protest note to the BDR.

Polling staff crisis

MALDA, March 31: District election officials are finding it difficult to requisition block livestock development officers (BLDOs) for polling duty because of an ongoing avian influenza awareness programme.

Following an order from the Supreme Court, the Election Commission had directed district election officials not to recruit BLDOs for election duty.

To meet the crisis of polling staff in different sectors, however, the block development officials approached BLDOs to take part in election duty despite the Supreme Court's ruling.

Some BLDOs did not turn up in response to the letter issued by the BDO to attend the block level meeting for election preparation. In Manikchak, the BDO has issued a show cause notice to the BLDO for not attending the meeting. The BLDO in Manikchak, Mr Chinmay Biswas replied promptly, pointing out his training programme for villagers regarding avian influenza. The district ARD officials said the BLDOs are not engaged in organising any programme comprising five villages in block levels. In Manikchak the ARD will organize the programme on 3 April.

The Malda SDO said that when the EC has sent its instructions the BLDOs will be exempted in special cases.n SNS

Opinion within Cong in favour of Mausam Noor

Statesman News Service
MALDA, March 30: A large section of Congress leaders and followers in North Malda Parliamentary constituency have extended their support to Miss Mausam Benazir Noor, their candidate for the Lok Sabha seat.

“When the AICC already has nominated her, we are not worried about Dr AN Khan Choudhury if he decides to contest as an Independent against his niece Miss Noor,” they said.

“Dr Khan contested against his elder brother and former Union minister ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury in 1996 but could not defeat our leader,” said Mr Masidur Rahaman, vice-president of Malda district Congress and Miss Noor's election agent.

Mohd Intaj, Sabhapati of Chanchal I panchayat samiti, said: “Mausam is better than Dr Khan Choudhury. We wanted a member of Priya Ranjan Das Munshi's family here. But she is the best candidate for us now.”

“If Dr Khan Choudhury plans to contest against her he will get less than 100 votes. We are now in a safe position for Mausam because the CPI-M can criticise Dr Khan Choudhury on the issue of his controversial citizenship,” Mohd Intaj said.

Another member of Chanchal I panchayat samiti, Mr Indranarayan Majumdar, said: “We are happy with her. Hundreds of people, besides Congress workers, joined our meeting at Chanchal Rabindra Bhawan just to see her. The nominated candidate is far better than Dr Khan Choudhury.”

A group of youths assembled in front of Mr AH Khan Choudhury's house today. The youths criticised the district Congress president and Malda MP and his niece, Miss Noor.

They demanded that Miss Noor withdraw her candidature for her maternal uncle this morning. The group left the area when a large group of Miss Noor's followers, leaders of the Chhatra Parishad and block Congress leaders arrived at the house. Miss Noor held a meeting at her maternal uncle's house at Kotwali with them to formulate strategies for her campaign.

The Malda MP moved out of his home, bypassing local journalists and the agitated people. The MP is campaigning in South Malda constituency.

He was scheduled to hold a meeting with the Trinamul Congress district leaders at its office but it was cancelled. Trinamul Congress leaders refused to go his house and asked him, though a Congress leader, to come to their office first.

Mr Hassan Ali Shah, general secretary of the Malda district congress and a close associate of Dr Khan Choudhury, said: “It is a painful matter when a group of Congress leaders are dividing the Ghani family by projecting Mausam. Dr Khan Choudhury is in Delhi and Mrs Sonia Gandhi will take the final decision.”

Mr Shah admitted that Miss Noor had refused to talk to them when he and Mr Mostaque Alam, another general secretary, arrived a workers’ meeting at Babupur in Gazol last evening. Miss Noor left the place immediately after their arrival.

RKM acts to stop private tuition

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 30: The secretary of the Malda Ramakrishna Mission, Swami Divyananda, has written a letter to the district inspector of schools (secondary) stating that he has asked all permanent assistant teachers at Vivekananda Vidyamandir to stop the practice of private tuition from the next session.

The district inspector of schools, Mr Chinmay Sarkar, said the letter is enough to prove that the assistant teachers of the school have continued private tuition illegally and submitted false declarations to the authorities.

“On the basis of the letter received yesterday, we can withhold the teachers’ salaries for the month of March. But we will not do so right now. As soon as the new session begins, we will seek a (fresh) declaration by the teachers (that they are not engaged in private tuition) from the secretary,” said Mr Sarkar.

“If the secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission fails to take proper steps we will stop payment of the teachers’ salaries from May 2009,” Mr Sarkar added.

Swami Divyananda had recently warned the teachers of Vivekananda Vidyamandir that he would not send their pay bill to the DI if they do not get stop their private tuition classes.

Swami Divyananda also issued a written notice to all 30 assistant teachers to stop private tuition from next month; at a meeting he told them: “This practice is unwanted and unhealthy for Ramkrishna Mission.”

It may be noted that the Malda Ramkrishna Mission authorities had asked the teachers to stop private tuition earlier. Although they submitted official declarations, most of the teachers continued the practice.

Swami Divyananda decided to seek administrative help when he found that students of various classes were leaving the Mission’s hostel.

One boarder at the hostel, a student of Class IX, disclosed that he wanted to take coaching from schoolteachers privately.

According to Swami Divyananda, students also alleged that if they did not take lessons from their class teachers privately they would never get good marks in class examinations, suggesting that teachers do not award good marks to compel students to take up private tuition.

According to him, nearly 30 students out of 71, including orphans, have already left the Mission’s hostel. Students could not go out for private tuition while continuing to stay at the hostel.

“I had to take this tough step when the teachers refused to accept my plea. Most of the teachers said that private tuition was a part of the social responsibility of teachers in the interest of students,” said Swami Divyananda.

Protesting drivers stop work

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 30: Commuters were in deep trouble today after private bus drivers ceased work from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m in protest against the arrest of a driver under Section 304 and 279 IPC.

The drivers and workers blocked roads in several areas across the district, including a busy road in front of the private bus stand in Malda town, paralysing normal life.

Mr Krishnapada Biswas had to surrender before Malda police station this morning when the police started a case against him after a road accident at Raypur near Sahapur under Malda police station yesterday afternoon.

Manjur Sheikh (52) was run over and killed by a private bus yesterday. The relatives of the deceased lodged a complaint against the driver. Police arrested the driver and produced him in the court charged under Section 304 and 279 of the IPC.

Hearing about the arrest, leaders from three private bus unions decided to cease work for an indefinite period and blocked roads demanding the bail of the driver. Drivers got down from their buses after receiving instructions from their leaders.

When the court granted the bail plea of the driver at about 4.30 p.m. the union leaders lifted the road blocks.

Union leaders from several different political parties called an emergency meeting this evening to take the decision to launch a further movement in protest at the imposition of Section 304 of the IPC (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder), against them.

Trinamul hand sought for victory

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 29: Miss Mausam Benazir Noor, Congress nominated candidate for the North Malda parliamentary constituency, today held a meeting with the district Trinamul Congress leaders seeking their support and launched her election campaign in Chanchal subdivision areas today, ignoring her maternal uncles’ instructions.

The district Congress president, Mr AH Khan Choudhury, Malda MP had asked Congress leaders to campaign with the symbol until the candidature uncertainty was finally cleared off. Yet, ignoring such instruction, his niece Miss Noor has gone forward canvassing support individually with a section of Congress workers since Friday.

Dr AN Khan Choudhury, maternal uncle of Miss Noor and elder brother of Mr AH Khan Choudhury has been trying desperately to meet Mrs Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi, seeking reconsideration of the candidature issue in his favour.

Apparently upset over the delay in the matter even after the final official announcement by the party high command, Miss Noor said that she would ask Mrs Sonia Gandhi to sort out the problem here.

“We have got confirmation of party symbol for Miss Noor. There is no question of reconsidering the candidature now,” the Malda district Congress, vice-president and the election agent of Miss Noor, Mr Masidur Rahman, said.

According to the district Trinamul Congress president, Mr Dulal Sarkar, the Congress and Trinamul block and panchayat level leaders would hold a meeting jointly in Gazol on 1 April to formulate campaign strategies for Miss Noor on a collective basis. Leaders from seven assembly segments under North Malda would be present in Gazol, according to the TMC sources. Meanwhile, Mr Goutam Charkraborty, former Malda ZP's Congress sabhadhipati, who recently joined the Trinamul Congress, said that they had approached the Congress candidate Miss Noor to project photograph of Miss Mamata Banerjee along with the Congress leaders like Dr Manmohan Singh, Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Mr Rahul Gandhi in the Congress's banners and festoons.”

According to the Trinamul leaders, Miss Mamata Banerjee persistently pursued in favour of Miss Noor's candidature with the Congress High Command when it was grappling with a dilemma over the matter. Miss Noor said that she would approach Miss Mamata Banerjee to kick-start a special election campaign for her in North Malda area separately. “We are trying hard to bring in Mr Rahul Gandhi in the final leg of the campaigning,” she added.

N Malda pick leads to a divided Cong

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 27: The Congress in Malda is a divided lot, following the AICC's decision to nominate Miss Mausam Benazir Noor for the North Malda Parliamentary seat, bypassing her maternal uncle Dr AN Khan Choudhury.

Reacting to the development, Dr AN Khan Choudhury's close associate and Congress district general secretary, Mr Hassan Ali Shah, said today: “A group of Congress leaders, including local MLAs, created the problem by backing Miss Noor. No candidate has been finalised yet for North Malda.”

Supporters of Dr Khan Choudhury claim to have identified several leaders behind the conspiracy, including Mr Narendranath Tiwari, Mrs Sabitri Mitra, Mr Krishnendu Choudhury, Mr Asif Mehbub and general secretary Mr Samit Chatterjee.

“I have been supporting Miss Noor from the start. I believe she should be nominated for North Malda. I was against Dr Khan Choudhury due to his citizenship controversy,” said Mr Narendranath Tiwari, one of the general secretaries of the Malda district Congress.

Mr Tiwari, chairman of the English Bazaar Municipality and district Intuc president, was present with a large number of supporters to receive Miss Mausam Noor at Malda town station this morning.

“Miss Noor is definitely a better candidate,” claimed Mr Asif Mehbub, MLA of Kharba, while the Araidanga MLA Mrs Sabitri Mitra said: “I had campaigned for Dr AN Kahn Choudhury when the Congress district president Mr AH Khan Choudhury announced his candidature for North Malda. Being a Congress worker, I will campaign for Miss Noor now that the AICC has nominated her.”

Brushing aside all criticism against him, the English Bazaar MLA Mr Krishnendu Choudhury said: “Everybody will have to abide by the AICC's decision. If the AICC has nominated Miss Noor, she must be good enough. I am with the district Congress president.”

In the meantime, Dr AN Khan Choudhury has left for New Delhi to meet Mr K Keshav Rao and Mrs Sonia Gandhi to secure the North Malda ticket.

“Last night, Mr Rao asked my brother to come to New Delhi, bringing papers from the Switzerland government related to his citizenship. The leaders in New Delhi will review the status of his Indian citizenship and arrange a meeting with Mrs Sonia Gandhi. She will decide on the issue,” the district Congress president, Mr AH Khan Choudhury, said today.

Sujapur MLA N Malda candidate

MALDA, March 26: The Congress has decided to nominate Sujapur MLA Miss Mausam Benazir Noor to compete for the North Malda constituency instead of Dr AN Khan Choudhury, due to the Swiss citizenship issue clouding his name. The district Congress president and South Malda candidate, Mr AH Khan Choudhury, claimed yesterday that his elder brother Dr AN Khan Choudhury would compete on a Congress ticket for the North Malda Lok Sabha seat.

Hence, Dr AN Khan Choudhury was surprised at Miss Noor's nomination this morning: “Everything was on the right track, but last night a senior Congress leader from New Delhi called me to report that the high command had rejected my candidature. I was told that Miss Noor would contest from North Malda instead.” He went onto claim: "Some congress leaders in Delhi have stabbed me in the back. My supporters will boycott the elections in protest.”Regarding the Swiss citizenship controversy, Dr Choudhury added: “I produced Government of India papers stating that the Centre has decided to register me as an Indian citizen. We are waiting for papers from Switzerland. The AICC had given me the period until 6 April to obtain the papers. However, last night the leaders changed their decision.”

Miss Noor, who is Dr AN Khan Choudhury's niece, submitted her bio-data directly to the West Bengal PCC chief Mr Pranab Mukherjee and claimed the ticket for the North Malda parliamentary seat, while her two maternal uncles were camping in New Delhi for tickets.Miss Noor said this morning: “Last night an AICC member called and told me to prepare myself to compete for the North Malda seat. However, nothing has been finalised or officially announced.” n sns

Malda MP under pressure

MALDA, March 26: The contesting candidate for South Malda Parliamentary constituency and current Malda Congress MP Mr AH Khan Choudhury is under pressure. He is trying hard to maintain unity among Congress workers in his parliamentary segments in the hope of reaching the people before the elections.

A section of Congress leaders have expressed unhappiness over his long absence from parts of his parliamentary constituency over the last few months.

The English Bazaar MLA Mr Krishnendu Choudhury criticised the attitude of the Malda MP at a closed-door meeting at the party office yesterday morning.

In the presence of nearly one hundred Congress leaders, the English Bazaar MLA pointed out his faults just before the parliamentary elections.

Mr Khan Choudhury, who is also the district Congress president, finally called the English Bazaar MLA last evening to sort out the problem in a friendly manner and formulate strategies to win the seat. The meeting lasted for over an hour last night.

Mr Choudhury said: “I told him that he did not give enough time to many parts of his constituency and did not pay attention to Congress workers and meet their demands and problems.

“I specifically mentioned that hundreds of Congress workers have been disheartened. Local youths were unhappy over the allotment of funds from his MPLAD. The funds have been misused due to the interference of the middle men he appointed,” he said.

“I raised some issues in the English Bazaar Parliamentary segment, which is now under the South Malda parliamentary constituency, and tried to alert the Malda MP before his election campaigning began,” Mr Choudhury added. n sns

CPM charges code violation

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 26: The state CPI-M has lodged a complaint with the state election commission against the Congress on charges of violating the model code of conduct. The charges will be based on the report of the Malda CPI-M, the district party secretary Mr Jiban Moitra said.

The state CPI-M has sent a copy of the complaint to the election commission in New Delhi. The district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh started an inquiry today on the basis of the complaint yesterday evening.

According to the complaint, the Congress leaders took out a motorcycle rally from Malda town station to Kotwali yesterday morning without the permission of the police or the administration. More than 50 motor cycles allegedly took part in the rally with party flags and symbols for the election campaign.

The CPI-M created a compact disc of the rally and submitted it to the election commission in Kolkata and Delhi.

Death for two in twin murder case

MALDA, March 26: The Malda court today sentenced two people to death by hanging for killing a woman and her daughter, subject to the approval of Calcutta High Court. The judge of the fifth fast-track court in Malda Mr Shantanu Ray announced the verdict today.

The court found Subhankar Sarkar and his friend Debapriya Pal guilty after receiving statements from more than 60 witnesses in connection with the dual murder case.

The victims, schoolteacher Maya Sarkar (52), and her daughter Anusha Sarkar (22), a student of Malda College, were murdered on 26 September 2007 night at the Air View Complex in English Bazaar town.

After an investigation, the police started a case against the two youths for murder, suppression of evidence, theft and recovery of stolen items from their house. The police established a love angle behind the murders. Subhankar, a dropout, was apparently in love with Anusha, despite her mother's objections.

After the incident local residents started a continuous demonstration demanding the arrest of the culprits and extending cooperation to the police. They demanded exemplary punishment several times when they were produced in the court. n SNS

Varun wanted for Malda campaign

MALDA, March 25: The BJP candidate for Pilibhit, Mr Varun Gandhi, seems to be much in demand here, the controversy over the communal remarks attributed to him notwithstanding.

BJP leaders in Malda district have urged the party’s state leadership to invite Mr Gandhi to pay a visit for poll campaigning.

The BJP candidate for the North Malda Parliamentary seat, Mr Amlan Bhaduri, said senior party leaders Mr LK Advani, Mr Narendra Modi, Mrs Sushma Swaraj and Rajya Sabha MP Hema Malini have been selected for poll campaigning in West Bengal. Any two of them might visit Malda for poll campaigning, he said.

“Due to security reasons Mr Modi’s visit to Malda is uncertain, but we are trying hard to bring Mr Varun Gandhi here,” Mr Bhaduri said.

Another leader of the state BJP, Mr Asim Chakraborty, said: “We have already sent a proposal to the central leadership asking Mr Varun Gandhi to address a rally in the Muslim-dominated Kaliachak belt, which is under the South Malda parliamentary constituency.”

Playing the Hindu card, Mr Bhaduri is confident of securing a fairly large portion of the Hindu votes in North Malda, where Hindus form nearly 65 per cent of the electorate.

In the meantime, Mr Bhaduri is trying hard to clear the confusion among the people that has arisen out of the BJP and the Congress together having formed civic bodies in the rural belt.

“In national politics, the Congress is our main enemy. In Malda zilla parishad, we had projected our member as saha sabhadhipati because the Congress did not have a Scheduled Tribe member for the reserved post,” Mr Bhaduri said. The BJP nominee had finally been elected as saha sabhadhipati.

In the Hindu-dominated Barind belt, there are at least five gram panchayats where the Congress, BJP and Trinamul Congress combined to form the boards after the last rural polls. It’s no surprise then that the voters are confused about who’s hooked up with whom.

Mr Bhaduri has brushed aside talks of a deal with the Congress here to swing the BJP’s votes to the Congress. n SNS (END)

Cong mum, brother cocksure

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 25: Though the AICC is yet to declare the name of the candidate for the North Malda constituency, the outgoing Malda Congress MP and district Congress president Mr AH Khan Choudhury today claimed that his elder brother and controversial Congress leader Dr AN Khan Choudhury would contest on a Congress ticket from the North Malda constituency.

The district Congress president held a meeting with the party's leaders in Malda today to reiterate this claim. He also urged them to bury any differences of opinion on candidate selection for North Malda. Incidentally, a Swiss citizenship controversy still dangles over Dr AN Khan Choudhury's political prospects.

Speaking to the Press in Malda today, the district president said: “The external affairs minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee is looking into the matter of Swiss citizenship. He will announce the name of the candidate soon. A technical problem is causing a delay in announcing Dr AN Khan Choudhury's name as the candidate for North Malda.” The district president, however, refused to explain what the technical problem was.

He said: “Mr Pranab Mukherjee has instructed us to start campaigning for Dr AN Khan Choudhury. He will sort out the problem in the meantime. My brother has already obtained a no objection certificate from the Swiss government and submitted it to the appropriate authorities in India.”

Dr Khan Choudhury, who also reached Malda today, said: “I am an Indian citizen by birth. I have all the documents to prove my citizenship. I will contest from North Malda because people want me to.”

Among the contenders for North Malda, former district Congress president Mrs Sabitri Mitra, English Bazaar MLA Mr Krishnendu Choudhury and Mr Suresh Behani were present at today's meeting. Although it was decided that the Congress would start campaigning from Gazol in North Malda, some have expressed their discontent at the decision.

Vigilance stepped up before polls

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 25: Vigilance has been stepped up to curb extremist activities in all eleven police stations in Malda district before parliamentary elections, police said.

Malda police are conducting intensive raids in vulnerable areas every night based on intelligence reports, and are sending daily law and order reports to police directorate following instructions from the Election Commission.

Acting on a tip off, police arrested one Mr Pradip Roy from Soneghat village, close to the Bangladesh border, under Bamongola police station . They also seized a grenade from his possession.

Police produced him at Malda court and sought police remand for 14 days in order to interrogate him further.

After a thorough interrogation, Bamongola police station did not discover any evidence connecting the KPP or KLO with Mr Pradip Roy.

Police are endeavouring to find out how Mr Roy obtained the grenade.

Student dead

MALDA, March 25: A Madhyamik examinee, Badal Agarwal, died in Malda District Hospital last night. Badal, a student of Siddeshwari High School in Chanchal, was playing cricket after the Work Education exams yesterday when he fell and injured his head. He was later admitted to the local hospital. The doctors referred him to Malda District Hospital after his condition grew serious. According to doctors, he died of internal haemorrhage. n SNS

Ransacked

MALDA, March 25: A group of traders ransacked the office of the legal metrology department in English Bazaar town today. Traders wanting their equipment renewed turned violent when the office staff refused to renew their equipment today. According to traders, the legal metrology officials harass them by delaying renewal and demanding “extra fees”. The district magistrate has intervened after the incident. n SNS

Two injured

MALDA, March 25: A BJP leader, Mr Ranbir Singh, and a student, Mr Pranab Ray - both residents of Rajmahal in Jharkhand - were injured in a clash today in which bombs were used. They have been admitted to Malda District Hospital. n SNS

Lost & found

MALDA, March 25: A rickshaw puller found a blank marks foil for a Physics Madhyamik examination in Manikchak yesterday and handed it to police. The education officials discovered that a teacher of Manikchak High School had lost the marks foil. Police today asked the teacher to bring written permission from the DI to recover the ‘confidential’ papers. The DI will seek clarification from the teacher tomorrow. n SNS

PM, Rahul sought after

MALDA, March 24: In a bid to win the South Malda Lok Sabha seat, the Kaliachak block Congress has urged Malda MP Mr AH Khan Choudhury, who is also the party’s candidate for the seat, to ensure that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Congress general secretary Mr Rahul Gandhi pay a visit for his election campaign.

“The Malda MP is trying hard to bring Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh or (Congress president) Mrs Sonia Gandhi for his poll campaign in South Malda Parliamentary constituency,” said Mr Enarul Islam, Kaliachak Town Congress president.

Congress leaders of Kaliachak block, which falls under the South Malda seat, yesterday sought to meet Mr Khan Chowdhury following the announcement that Dr Singh, Mrs Gandhi and Mr Gandhi would visit West Bengal.

It was announced in New Delhi that Dr Singh would attend one rally, Mrs Gandhi would attend three rallies and Mr Gandhi would attend four rallies in the state.

“Mrs Sonia Gandhi has come to Malda several times. But neither the Prime Minister nor Mr Rahul Gandhi has come to Malda or Murshidabad. Mr Rahul Gandhi may be available for poll campaigning either in Farakka or in Kaliachak,” said Mr Islam.

According to Mr Islam, the party workers and leaders waited to meet Mr Khan Chowdhury but he was busy in Delhi trying to secure a ticket for his elder brother for North Malda.

Mr Khan Choudhury’s supporters had fixed a date for meetings in Dhulian and other areas in Murshidabad, but he could not arrive in time. n SNS

Emergency Cong meet in Malda today

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 24: The Congress district president in Malda, Mr AH Khan Choudhury, has convened an emergency party meeting here tomorrow. All MLAs of the district and contenders for the North Malda Lok Sabha constituency have been asked to attend. According to the Congress leadership, the poll campaign strategy for the North and South Malda seats will be decided in the meeting.

Mr Khan Choudhury today informed his followers in Malda that he would be arriving in Malda tomorrow. According to the local leadership, the controversial leader Dr AN Khan Choudhury is also expected to arrive tomorrow.

The Congress has decided to launch its election campaign from the tribal and backward class-dominated Gazol town, a red bastion in North Malda. Since the AICC is yet to announce the name of its North Malda candidate, the local leadership has decided to start campaigning on the strength of the symbol. (END)

Anti-erosion work to be completed by June

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 24: The irrigation and waterways department has set a deadline of 30 June this year for completion of anti-erosion work on the bank of the Mahananda in Old Malda and Habibpur to save the barbed wire fencing along the India-Bangladesh border.

The Centre had sanctioned the project following the nod of the Central Water Commission. A total of Rs 33 crore has been allotted for the project.

According to the executive engineer of irrigation department in Malda, Mr S Misra, six kilometres of the bank will be protected from erosion to save the barbed wire fencing in vulnerable areas along the border. The departmental engineers began procuring materials for the project on 2 March.

For security reasons, the Border Security Force has already listed out the irrigation department officials, the contractors and the hundreds of labourers who will cross the fencing while work along the border is on. The BSF has also held a meeting with the irrigation officials to fix the timetable for opening gates along the fencing at different spots on the border.

Hundreds of labourers are working on the bank of the Mahananda from Muchia to Adampur border outposts and from Sukhnagar to Krishnagar border outposts, close to the Bangladesh side, under the supervision of the BSF.

“Procurement of boulders is almost complete. Labourers will have to make nearly five lakh concrete blocks for pitching slope of the bank-line within the stipulated time. We expect that the project will be completed by 30 June, before the monsoon arrives,” Mr Misra said.

Campaign sans candidate

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 23: The Congress in North Malda has decided to launch poll campaign in the constituency without a candidate.

Frustrated with the Central leadership's delay in announcing the name of a candidate for the North Malda constituency, Congress workers of the area have decided to go ahead with campaigning on the strength of the party symbol ~ candidate or no candidate.

“We were waiting for the announcement of our party candidate for North Malda. Under the circumstances, we decided to instruct the party workers and zonal leaders to start campaigning with the party symbol from today,” said the Chanchal block Congress president, Mr Sachchidananda Chakraborty.

“We would just paint the party symbol for now and write the candidate's name after the high command declares it. We expect the AICC to announce the North Malda candidate's name by Wednesday,” Mr Chakraborty added.

The general secretaries of the Malda district Congress, Mr Mostaque Alam and Mr Hassan Ali Shah, however, claimed that Dr A N Khan Choudhury would get the ticket for North Malda.

“The AICC would announce his name today or tomorrow. The controversy over his Indian citizenship has been resolved. He is waiting for a ‘no objection’ letter from Switzerland,” they said.

It is, however, learnt that the Malda Congress MP and district Congres president Mr AH Khan Choudhury has been asked to select an alternative candidate if his elder brother fails to secure a clearance to contest. The rumour in the Congress camp is the newly elected Sujapur MLA Miss Mousam Benazir Noor could be the alternative candidate for North Malda. (END)

DM seeks BSF help for LS polls

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 23: The Malda district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Ghosh will hold a meeting with the BSF officers soon seeking their cooperation for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The meeting was scheduled to be held last evening but due to unavoidable circumstances it was cancelled. The district magistrate said: “We need to talk to BSF officers regarding security issues related to border villages. BSF's cooperation is required not only to maintain proper vigilance near the border areas but also for the upcoming parliamentary election as parties will want to campaign in border villages”.

A few days back, the CPI-M leaders had lodged a complaint alleging that the BSF were preventing their party workers from campaigning in the border villages. Following instructions from the election commission, the district magistrate also said that the administration will hire digital video cameras to check violation of Model Code of Conduct.

Mr Sridhar Ghosh said that digital camera-men will be deployed in at least 20-25 percent polling stations on the basis of identified sensitive booths. Micro Observers will also be deployed in 25 percent booths which are identified as hyper sensitive. In Malda district, a total of 2,421 polling stations have been set up including nearly 600 auxiliary ones.

The district election officials also released a schedule that said the last date of nomination is 9 April. Scrutiny will be held on 11 April and 13 April will be the last date of nomination withdrawal for the election on 30 April.

Basu inspiring

MALDA, March 23: The CPI-M leadership is drafting a speech for Mr Jyoti Basu that would be video-taped and used for campaigning across the state.

CDs of Mr Basu's speech would be distributed among the party workers, who will play those recordings in group meetings and in remote areas as part of the Marxists’ poll campaign. The idea was conceived from Mr Basu's speech played in the rally in Kolkata recently.

Confirming the information, the CPI-M Malda district secretary, Mr Jiban Moitra, said: “The party's central leadership planned the move due to Mr Basu's infirmity. We expect the recordings to reach us soon. We would play those in our party workers’ meetings and in public meetings too.”n SNS

Chickenpox

MALDA, March 23: At least 20 students suffering from chickenpox appeared in class XI and HS examinations in English Bazaar town today. According to education department officer Mr Partha Jha, seven of the candidates appeared in the HS exams and 13 for class XI examinations. The education department has arranged an isolation ward at Malda Railway High School for the candidates. n SNS

Jackal

MALDA, March 23: A jackal attacked and injured an eight-year-old boy Selim Hossian and his two-year-old sister Ariza at Bhagabanpur village in Baishnabnagar police station area last night. Ariza was admitted to Malda district hospital with serious injury at her cheek. According to Ariza's mother, a jackal entered their house and bit the girl around 7 p.m. The jackal next attacked Selim who was studying on the verandah. The jackal fled when neighbours chased it. The boy was injured in the chest. n SNS

New procedure for law and order feedback

MALDA, March 22: The state chief electoral officer (CEO) Mr Debasish Sen has prescribed a new procedure for district magistrates to send daily law and order reports to the Election Commission.

Mr Sen has requested the DMs not to send daily reports to him directly. He has instead instructed superintendents of police to prepare the daily law and order reports. The SP is to send a copy to the DM and police directorate, which, in turn, will compile the reports and send them to the home department. The home (political) department will compile the reports received and send a consolidated report to the CEO. Similarly, Kolkata Police will also send daily law and order reports to the police directorate for compilation.

The CEO has also pointed out that a few sector officials and other electoral officials, who have been in the same office for more than three years, have not been transferred. The CEO has asked the DMs to ensure that all such officers are released by 31 March without waiting for their successors.

The district magistrates have been asked to hire the required number of video cameras for video tracking of events not only on polling days but also during campaigning.

The CEO has asked the district magistrates to send manuscripts for a second supplement of electoral roll, manuscripts for service voters and electoral photo identity card back-ups by the stipulated deadline. n SNS

Probe started on ration lifting

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 20: Officials of the district food and supplies began an inquiry into allegations against a modified ration dealer in Kaliachak II block area today following a High Court order.Mr Asmat Sheikh, from Tofi village under Hamidpur gram panchayat, filed a writ petition to the Calcutta High Court alleging that the local modified ration dealer, Mr Ainal Hoque, was lifting materials meant for the public distribution system using hundreds of ghost ration-card holders. On 26 February, the Calcutta High Court asked the Malda district controller of food and supplies to inquire into the allegation within seven days from the date of the order and send a report to the court.Today a five member team including two chief inspectors, Mr Tapan Roy and Mr Debtosh Dasgupta, held a meeting at Hamidpur gram panchayat office to inquire into the matter. The team visited houses to verify family members based on a list submitted by Mr Asmat Sheikh with the help of panchayat officials. The officials of the food and supplies department asked Mr Sheikh to take part in the meeting but he refused and objected to the holding of a meeting at the gram panchayat office. Mr Sheikh, backed by the CPI-ML Liberation leaders, urged them to hold the meeting at Hamidpur managed primary school for his safety and to ensure a fair inquiry. A group of people, backed by the alleged modified dealer, threatened him for conducting such an inquiry and seeking the help of the Court order. Mr Sheikh alleged that the district administration had conducted an inquiry earlier and held a meeting at the gram panchayat office but had taken no action against the dealer. “I finally had to seek the intervention of the High Court and filed a writ petition with the help of the CPI-ML leaders,” Mr Sheikh said. “Mr Sheikh collected the names of all the dealer's customers using the Right to Information Act. He identified at least 1,500 names out of more than 5000 ration cards as ghosts," Mr Mrityunjay Das, the lawyer and CPI-ML leader, said. The district controller of food and supplies was not available for comment because of illness. An official said: “A five member team has begun an inquiry following a mass petition.”

Code of Conduct

MALDA, March 20: The Election Commission has agreed to exempt drinking water supply-related works from the Model Code of Conduct. At a meeting with the district magistrates in Kolkata yesterday, the Chief Election Commissioner Mr N Gopalaswami agreed to allow urgent drinking water schemes in rain-fed zones to continue. These will not be included within the purview of the election code of conduct. n SNS

Kala azar

MALDA, March 20: The health department is to launch a programme of DDT-spraying in zones of Malda district affected by kala-ajar from April this year. District health officials have set up several teams of workers who will be engaged in the spraying to kill sand-flies in the affected zone. n SNS

Trinamul support or not, Suci fields candidate

Biman mum on Congress support

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 19: The Socialist Unity Centre of India (Suci) has nominated Mrs Mallika Sarkar (Nandi) for North Malda Parliamentary constituency despite the Trinamul's declared stand to support the Congress in the constituency.

The Suci district secretary, Mr Gopal Nandi, today said: “We are not expecting the Trinamul's support in North Malda. We would contest here on our own against the CPI-M, Congress and BJP.”

According to the leader, the Suci state leader, Mr Manik Mukherjee, today held a meeting with party workers in Malda to formulate a poll strategy. “The Suci would not contest the South Malda seat as we do not have organisational strength in that constituency. Conversely, our organisation is strong in parts of Gazol, Old Malda, Habibpur, the tribal dominated areas and in Chanchal and Harishchandrapur in North Malda,” Mr Nandi said. According to him, the Suci would continue the joint movement with the Trinamul Congress in Malda district.

The Trinamul, meanwhile, is waiting for the Congress to seek its support in Malda. “We would extend support to the Congress if it seeks it. But no Congress leader has sought our help so far,” the Malda district Trinamul president, Mr Dulal Sarkar, said.

Biman mum on Congress support

RAIGANJ/MALDA, March 19: The CPI-M state secretary, Mr Biman Bose, today dodged questions on whether his party would support the Congress at the Centre if the proposed Third Front fails to take off as envisaged. “We are optimistic about the prospect of the Third Front. Whether the Third Front concept would fail or not and whether we would support the Congress in the post poll scenario or not is a hypothetical question. It would be like talking about the child yet to be born,” Mr Bose said at Raiganj today. Mr Bose, who met party workers in Malda yesterday and in North Dinajpur today, instructed party supporters to be humble while approaching the electorate. He has asked party workers to ensure that at least 50 per cent of the votes came the Left Front's way in every constituency. Mr Bose also urged the LF leadership and workers to forget differences of opinion if any and work together to secure at least 50 per cent votes from every booth. n SNS

V-C stalemate

MALDA, March 19: The higher education minister, Professor Sudarshan Roy Choudhuri, has asked the authorities at the University of Gour Banga (UGB) to call a meeting of its executive council in Kolkata to resolve an ongoing stalemate after the resignation of its Vice-Chancellor Prof. Surabhi Banerjee.

Sources of education department said the meeting would be called on 31 March in Kolkata because Prof. Banerjee was refusing to visit Malda after resigning.

Professor Banerjee will be asked to preside over the meeting to resolve the ongoing problem. The registrar of the UGB officially heard of her appointment as V-C in Central University on 17 March. n SNS

Fake notes

MALDA, March 19: The police in English Bazaar today arrested Yunus Ali and seized Rs 3 lakh counterfeit notes from his possession at Jadupur last night. Yunus is a resident of Chori Anantapur, close to the Bangladesh border, a fake currency circulation hub identified by the BSF. n SNS

Looted

MALDA, March 19: Robbers looted a Bankura bound state bus near Jadupur on NH 34 under Kaliachak police station last night. The bus, which had suffered mechanical fault, was being repaired when the robbers raided it. n SNS

2 killed, 10 hurt

MALDA, March 19: Two persons including a woman were killed and 10 others seriously injured in Gazol PS area today when the vehicle they were traveling in overturned. n SNS

Arrested

MALDA, March 19: Maharastra police with the help of West Bengal police arrested two persons from Malda district today on charges of stealing valuables from a jeweler's shop. The arrested are migrant labourers. They were produced in Malda court today for transit remand. n SNS

Illegal arms

MALDA, March 19: The police arrested Ranjit Pal on charges of possessing illegal fire arms, from Jajail village close to the Bangladesh border under Habibpur police station last night. n SNS

Secessionists behind blast, says Biman

MALDA, March 18: The Left Front chairman and CPI-M state secretary, Mr Biman Bose, today said here that those involved in secessionist movement in north Bengal were behind the Alipurduar blast today.

Addressing a workers’ meeting of the LF at the Malda sistrict sports association ground, Mr Bose, said: “Either the KPP or the KLO or other separatist organisations, who want to divide Bengal, masterminded the blast in Alipurduar. The insurgents would try more such acts before the Lok Sabha elections,” he said. Commenting that the larger terrorist organisation's which trained the smaller outfits could be behind the blast, Mr Bose went on to criticise the UPA government: “The UPA government did nothing to curb terrorism in the country.”

Mr Bose also held the Congress and the Trinamul Congress responsible for “terror tactics” in the state before the elections. “Congress supporters killed our Berhampur West local committee secretary Gobinda Mandal around 3 p.m. in Murshidabad today,” Mr Bose said.

Mr Bose urged Left Front supporters to work hard in uniting all LF workers to win the two Malda Lok Sabha seats. “Seek apology from the people where grievances on basic amenities exist and be modest while approaching the voters,” Mr Bose advised his party workers. SNS

Congmen unhappy over North Malda nomination

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 18: Hundreds of followers of the Congress leader Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi have expressed their dissatisfaction at the candidate selected for the North Malda parliamentary seat.

Party leaders are also dismayed at the Malda Congress MP, Mr AH Khan Choudhury's decision to select his elder brother Dr AN Khan Choudhury as the candidate for North Malda.

Though the All India Congress Committee is yet to announce the candidate for North Malda, the leaders claim to have information that Dr Khan Choudhury will be projected from the seat. They argued that Dr Khan's anti-party activity and a controversy over his citizenship were the main reasons for the delay in announcing his candidature.

Many Congress leaders have opposed Mr AH Khan Choudhury's decision to select his elder brother because Dr Khan Choudhury campaigned against his elder brother and former Congress stalwart and union minister ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury in 1996.

Mr Asif Mehbub, MLA from Kharba under North Malda constituency, said: “We wanted Mrs Dipa Das Munshi as the candidate here. When she refused we demanded a suitable figure who would serve people in the same way as Mr Das Munshi. We approached Mrs Das Munshi and Mr Pranab Mukherjee and they discussed the matter with Mrs Sonia Gandhi.”

“The district Congress committee did not discuss the selection of Dr AN Khan Choudhury with us and did not trouble to seek the opinions of leaders from the four newly-formed assembly segments: Harishchandrapur; Chanchal; Malatipur and even Gazol. The people are aggrieved and have become more sentimental on this issue,” Mr Asif Mehbub stated.

"Now we have to overcome a difficult situation and follow a Congress symbol rather than a man. It will take time to get over the aggrieved sentiments among the party workers,” Mr Mehbub said.

Both Mr AH Khan Choudhury and the proposed candidate, Dr AN Khan Choudhury, alias Lebu, have been camping in New Delhi attempting to secure the ticket for North Malda. Mr AH Khan Choudhury, alias Dalu, has been nominated for the South Malda constituency.

Party sources said that Mr Pranab Mukherjee would return to Delhi from Jangipur tomorrow and announce the name of the North Malda candidate on Thursday or Friday.

“Dalu-da told us last night that he would be coming to Malda on Saturday after the finalisation of the candidate for North Malda. He told us that Dr AN Khan Choudhury would be the candidate for North Malda,” said Mr Enarul Islam, member of Kaliachak Panchayat samiti under South Malda parliamentary constituency.

Biman slams Tollywood nominations

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 17: Tollywood film stars contesting the 15th Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal do not scare Left Front chairman and CPI-M state secretary Mr Biman Bose. “They will not be able to influence the outcome of the polls,” Mr Bose claimed at Malda and Balurghat today.

“We've seen how film star Victor Banerjee fared at the hustings. I am sure the people of Birbhum and Krishnanagar will vote Left candidates into these two constituencies, despite the personal charm of Satabdi Roy and Tapas Pal. There is nothing to worry about,” said Mr Bose.

“We are not scared of them or the Trinamul's strategy. The people are running after the cine stars now, but when it comes to voting they will cast their votes for the Left candidates,” he added.

Mr Bose expressed more concern about the situation in the Darjeeling Hills, where his party workers are in no position to campaign. “We have discussed the matter with the election commission officials and will appeal to the commission to deploy Central forces in Darjeeling in order to allow for a free and fair poll,” he said.

“The EC has announced the date of the elections but the official notification is yet to be issued. The commission would take the necessary steps after the notification. We will approach the EC to ensure normal conditions in the Hills so that political parties can campaign there,” he added.

Drumming up support, filmy style
Soma Mookherjee

KOLKATA, March 17: It may be merely a coincidence that actress-turned-politician Mrs Satabdi Roy's latest film emphasises the plight of dhakis (drummers). Mrs Roy is the Trinamul Congress candidate for Birbhum, where a significant segment of the electorate are drummers.It may also be a coincidence that Roy entrusted the lead role in the film to her colleague from the celluloid world, Mr Tapas Pal. Mr Pal is the Trinamul candidate for Krishnagar and is already an MLA. The duo, however, make no effort to conceal the fact that they are prepared to cash in on their "star appeal." "Of course, my following as a film actress and my roles in jatra will help me a lot in my political role. The familiarity of film actors makes it easier for them to reach the people," Mrs Roy said. This much is obvious from the human wave that both she and Mr Pal faced in Krishnagar and Birbhum from the first day of the campaign. Though both politicians said that their professional life had nothing to do with the election campaign, district party leaders believe that the ease with which they have been accepted by the masses can be attributed to of their "glamour world'' connection. " Satabdi is well known to rural areas in Birbhum because she often performs jatras ~ the most popular entertainment of rural Bengal,'' said Mr Asish Banerjee TMC MLA from Rampurhat in Birbhum district. Even yesterday's podium collapse ~ when too many people tried to share the stage with the popular actress ~ is being touted as evidence of her popularity. Mr Pal also had a busy weekend with fans and followers trying share the stage with the "celluloid hero” of the glamour world.Mr Pal said: "I don't mix my professional life with my political life. Moreover, I've been MLA for two consecutive terms in Alipore and well versed with politics. In Krishnagar, I'll hold workers' meetings and rallies and carry out our party chief's instruction and state government's wrong policies, CPI-M atrocities and state sponsored terrorism in Singur, Nandigram and Lalgarh.''At a workers' meeting that virtually turned out to be a mass rally, Mrs Roy said: “I'm just an emissary of Miss Mamata Banerjee, our party chief. I've come here to tell you about our different movements.” (END)

Cong delay in N Malda vexes supporters

MALDA, March 17: The Congress is yet to declare its candidate for the North Malda constituency, much to the chagrin of Congress supporters in Malda. The CPI-M is already into the second week of its poll campaign.

Attending several meetings organised by Left Front partners ~ the RSP, FB and CPI-M ~ particularly in Dhulian under Samserganj Assembly constituency, the Left Front candidate Dr Abdur Razaaque expressed happiness with the people's response to him.

According to Dr Razaaque, the two Assembly segments in Jangipur Parliamentary constituency, from where Mr Pranab Mukherjee was elected before the delimitation process, continue to remain underdeveloped despite returning one of the most powerful ministers of the UPA government.

Crestfallen due to the absence of a candidate until now, Congress supporters are pinning their hopes on the South Malda Congress candidate and outgoing MP Mr AH Khan Choudhury, who will reportedly launch his campaign in South Malda soon. n SNS

RSP support to CPM-led civic body at risk

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 17: With less than a month to go for the Lok Sabha elections, a group of RSP leaders have threatened to withdraw support from the LF-led board of the Old Malda Municipality.

The CPI-M leaders have urged the RSP leaders not to revolt so soon before the elections.

Despite the CPI-M’s request, the RSP leaders held a meeting with the members of three local committees in Old Malda last night and adopted a resolution that they would wait for three days.

“If the CPI-M leaders do not resolve the problem, the vice-chairman of the Old Malda Municipality, Mrs Tripti Pandey, will submit her resignation to the chairman,” said Mr Sarbananda Pandey, a district committee member of the RSP and Mrs Pandey’s husband.

Mr Pandey said that the local leaders including three RSP councillors of Old Malda Municipality have decided to withdraw support from the “CPI-M-led board” because of misbehaviour by the chairman, Mr Biswanath Sukul.

“The RSP councillors do not get any respect from the chairman. Even the BJP councillors are more respectful to him. The chairman does not allot development funds to the wards from where the RSP candidates were elected,” Mr Pandey alleged.

Mr Sukul, who is himself a local CPI-M leader, seemed to be surprised by the news. “Is it? I do not know about their plan. What they have alleged has never happened.”

Mr Pandey pointed out that he would also discuss the matter with RSP leader Mr Biswanath Chowdhury so that he may draw the attention of Left Front chairman Mr Biman Bose to the issue.

Mr Bose and Mr Choudhury will both be present in Malda to attend the LF workers’ meet to gear up the workers for the Lok Sabha elections.

Madrassa trafficking charge to be probed

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 16: In keeping with a directive of the state women’s commission, the social welfare department has decided to conduct an inquiry into alleged anomalies including suspected trafficking against a private residential madrassa for Islamic education for girls in Malda.

A four-member state women’s commission team led by Mrs Bharati Mutsuddi visited the private madrassa on Saturday and interacted with the police and civil administration officials following a sexual molestation charge brought against the institution’s chairman by a girl student on 2 March.

Fifty-four girls of the madrassa, which is located at Anandipur village in English Bazaar block, had met the Malda SP on 27 February and informed him about their plight. The victims had alleged that the chairman and his associates threatened to drive them out of the institution for protesting against the chairman Moulana Nur-ul-Islam.

During investigation, the state women’s commission team and government officials discovered that the institution, which was established four years ago, does not have a government registration certificate. The staff could not show any students’ register or accounts of financial transactions and source of funds collected to run the institution. The investigation further revealed that the institution has changed its name four times so far.

“This institution is running for the past four years but it could not show us how many girls came here and from where. The residential madrassa accommodates more than 300 girls. The institution would have to register according to the government guidelines. We will take action against the authorities under Child Act after the completion of the investigation,” said Mr PK Dey, district social welfare officer.

“We will investigate separately if the institution is involved in trafficking or not since it is a burning problem across the district,” the official added.

It may be noted that English Bazaar police are yet to arrest the chairman, which drew flak from the women’s commission members.