MALDA, 10 AUG.: The sabhadhipati of the Congress led Malda Zilla Parishad, Mrs Sabina Yeasmin has set up her husband, an outsider, as watchdog in the Zilla Parishad. The move is, however, costing her her popularity among fellow Congressmen and the MZP officials. Surprising many, Mrs Yeasmin today admitted that her husband had confronted some government officials inquiring about some confidential files and demanded to know the status of those files. “He did so in the interest of the district's development and to expedite some pending works after taking my consent. I have asked him to look into some matters,” the sabhadipati, claimed.
Some government officials, however, have taken offense with the practice. They alleged that in addition to the sabhadipati, two other women ‘karmadhyakshyas’ of the MZP were toeing the same line much to the dismay of all.
The sabhadipati, however, is projecting it as a move to encourage transparency. “Not only our husbands, any person, resident of Malda district, or a non-elected member of the Malda zilla parishad can ask and seek clarification on any file or any development work from the government officials,” she claimed.
A section of Congress leaders have in the meantime alleged that friction between the sabhadhipati and government officials have stalled development work through the MZP. It is learnt that some government officials refused to meet and discuss issues with the sabhadhipati in her chamber in presence of Congress leaders who are not MZP members. “I need to verify the allegation,” the sabhadipati said.
Mrs Yeasmin, however, is differentiating between her husband and her party men. “I would be careful in future and not allow party leaders in my vehicle while on official work,” she said.
Recruitment war continues
Friction between the Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh and the sabhadhipati of the Congress-led Malda Zilla Parishad (MZP), Mrs Sabina Yeasmin has come to the surface on various issues.
Addressing a Press conference, the sabhadhipati, Mrs Yeasmin today claimed that the district magistrate kept her in darkness concerning the ‘corruption’ during recruitment for various posts in panchayats, which has come to the surface through an anonymous letter.
Demanding the postponement of the entire process of recruitment until the end of the investigation, she said: “The district magistrate should have informed me about the issue before conducting a Press conference and before the decision to start an inquiry into the allegation that some elected members (of the MZP), enlisted contractors and top administrative officials were collecting money from job seekers applying for various posts.”
Being a member of the district level committee for the recruitment, she claimed that she was not present at the meeting where the decision was taken to start an investigation based on the anonymous letter.
Following the recommendation of the chairman of the recruitment committee Mr Kajal Banerjee, who also demanded postponement of the recruitment process, the district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh asked the police and vigilance department to start an immediate inquiry.
“I support his decision to launch an inquiry and I must cooperate with the administration so that the true facts come out, but he (the DM) should have informed me. It is a matter of my prestige as several elected members are allegedly involved,” said Mrs Yeasmin.
Mr Sridhar Ghosh replied: “It is completely an administrative matter. It is not a matter for the Zilla Parishad. When the DM's name came to the surface as well as information concerning some-one collecting money in the name of the DM, I decided to alert people through the media that there is not need to give money to get a job and advise them not to offer money if anyone tries to collect money in the name of the DM."
“The anonymous letter did not implicate any members of the recruitment committee. So, there is no need to postpone the entire process of recruitment until the end of the investigation. I asked the chairman of the committee to continue the process,” Mr Ghosh said.
On the other hand, it is learnt that the sabhadhipati wants to be a member of the recruitment board and wants to nominate herself as a member of the board.The district administrative officials objected to her decision and urged her to nominate a karmadhyakshya because "she can not nominate herself, on practical grounds." Finally, the sabhadhipati today admitted that she had informed the higher authorities of the state government about the non-cooperation of the administrative officials (not naming the DM) when they objected to allowing some schemes planned for execution through the MZP according to the decision of the MZP's sub-committee.
“Being a district magistrate I cancelled those items which were against the government's direction. An executive officer can not allow any decision of a sub-committee if it does
not follow the directives of the government,” Mr Ghosh, the executive officer of the MZP, said.
Recently, district officials have rejected proposals of the south Malda MP Mr AH Khan Choudhury to allot funds from the MPLAD to an NGO for construction work. Manas Banerjee
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