Trouble during Friday prayers

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 8: Police had to fire three rounds in air to control a mob near a temple at Gazole today, after a scuffle between Hindu and Muslim communities at the time of Friday prayers.

Tension had built up between the two communities three days ago after an encounter near a mosque at Gazole.

Reportedly, a Hindu marriage procession had passed the mosque on Tuesday.

Members of the Muslim community had asked the procession not to disturb them with the music played by their wedding band, and a verbal skirmish had ensued.

The administration had set up a police camp at the spot to pre-empt hostilities but the situation threatened to get out of hand today.

A large police contingent was sent to the area to bring the situation under control.

The Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh has instructed all block development officers to remain in station.

The DM also called up the leaders of the minority community and several political parties and urged them to prevent the people from assembling at the trouble spot.

Leaders, both political and of the minority community, have reached out to their block level leaders in and around the trouble spot to contain the people from flocking to the hotspot, The district administration is keeping a watchful eye on the situation.

A peace meeting, under the stewardship of a deputy superintendent of police and the block development officials of Gazole, was also held to ensure law and order in the area.

 Section 144



MALDA, May 9: The Malda district administration today promulgated Section 144 of the CrPC in 10 moujas of Gazole and Ratua blocks following communal tension building up between two communities in the area. SNS

148 home-guards on election duty unable to cast vote

MALDA, May 8: Reportedly, 148 voters who had been deployed on election duty were not able to cast their votes through postal ballot in Malda district, as the district headquarters did not receive the list of those requiring postal ballots in time.

Party leaders have lodged complaints with the district election officials, alleging ‘negligence’ on the part of a section of officials.

Yesterday, at an all party political meeting, the Congress leader, Mr Masudur Rahman, who is also chief election agent for Miss Mausam Noor, North Malda parliamentary seat candidate, lodged a complaint with the district magistrate and the superintendent of police on this matter.

Mr Rahman alleged that a total of 148 people in Harishchandrapur who had been assigned to election duty as home-guards by the police department, were not given their democratic right to postal vote.

It may be noted that the district election officials had set a deadline of 28 April for receiving postal ballots for those persons engaged in election duty. The date was then extended to 29 April.

“But the inspector-in-charge of Harishchandrapur police station had sent the list of home-guards to the district headquarters on the late date of 3 May,” said Mr Rahman, adding that "the IC should be punished for negligence of duty”.

“What can I do if the responsible persons delay in sending the list for issuing postal ballots. The elections ended on 30 April, how can I issue postal ballots on 3 May?", said Ms Indrani Saha, the additional district magistrate (development).

It may be noted that Ms Saha did not issue the postal ballots for a period after the due time was over, despite several requests from various quarters. Finally she has sent the list of issued postal ballots to the Election Commission.

Meanwhile, the district magistrate held a meeting with the political parties to inform them about the system of counting and sought the list of counting agents, along with photographs for issuing identity cards as entry passes into the counting halls.

The district election officials have set a deadline of 11 May for submission of the list of counting agents, along with the required papers from all political parties.n SNS

Students, guardians protest excessive admission fees

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 4: Hundreds of students led by guardians and student leaders staged a demonstration in front of Kalindri High School in Manikchak block today in protest against the decision to collect admission fees of Rs 250 from each student, in contravention of the government rate, Rs 68.

Also today, hundreds of students of Dhiren Saha High School in English Bazaar town ransacked their school building, demanding the promotion of failed students.

The admission process was kept on hold today, as guardians - led by the CPI-ML (Liberation) alleged that the managing committee of Kalindri High School had been claiming Rs 250 instead of Rs 68 for admission to class V and other grades.

The CPI-ML leaders today lodged a complaint with the district inspector of schools and demanded the break up of fees collected from students for admission.

“The school has also not started a midday meal project for upper primary students,” alleged Mr Naba Biswas, a CPI-ML leader.

The headmaster of the school, Mr Najmul Hoque, said: “The decision was taken by the managing committee. After an agitation, it was decided that the MC will hold another meeting to finalise the rate of admission fees.”

The DI, secondary, Mr Chinmay Sarkar said: “The CPI-ML leaders asked me about the government rate for admission fees. I told them the school is only permitted to collect the exact amount of Rs 68 - the government rate - and that I support their movement. I will ask the school authorities about the allegations."

On the other hand, Mr Kamalakshya Sen - the teacher in charge of Dhiren Saha High School, whose students are demanding that failed students be promoted - said: “I am on medical leave. I have heard that a group of students agitated in school and created a problem.”

According to him, 30 per cent students have failed in class examinations and school authorities decided not to promote them.

“I have asked the teachers to begin a dialogue with the students and settle the matter. It is nothing new. Every year we face a similar problem,” Mr Sen said.

Dhiren Saha High School has been in trouble throughout the year due to lack of proper management. Since 1977, no election was held to form a managing committee. The school is run by an administrator appointed by the government.

The senior deputy collector in Malda district magistrate office, Mr Subho Mukherjee, also an administrator of Dhiren Saha High School, said: “After the end of the election process I will look into the matter. We are trying hard to conduct elections to form a managing committee for this school. After September the matter will be resolved.”

Mango crop severly hit by nor'wester

Statesman News Service


MALDA, May 4: The nor’wester that blew through Malda yesterday, not only killed seven people but also, heavily damaged the mango crop in three blocks of the district.


According to the mango development officer in Malda Mr SN Khara, 50 per cent of the mango crop was damaged in the storm.


The severe storm damaged several dwellings, causing a number of house collapses. Seven persons died in the nor'wester across the district. The block development officers have been asked to prepare reports of house damage, particularly in the Manikchak, Kaliachak II and English Bazaar blocks. “The final picture is yet to be pieced together,” said the Malda SDO Mr Prakash Pal.


Already suffering from a lack of rain, mango farming has been hit hard in the district this year. The storm and damage to whatever crop was left has compounded the problem for the mango farmers.


“The district hardly received any rain in March and April. The dry spell caused mango fruits to drop off the trees. Yesterday's storm took a further toll on the crop,” lamented Mr Subodh Mishra, secretary of the Malda Mango Merchants’ Association.

RPF jawans on poll duty come down with malignant malaria

MALDA, May 4: Nine jawans of the Railway Protection (Special) Force suffering from malignant malaria are undergoing treatment in Malda Railway Hospital,

One of them is in critical condition while the others are out of danger, hospital authorities said.

The team from Chittaranjan in Burdwan went to Diphu (Karbi-Anglong) in Assam on election duty. Later they were posted in Islampur in North Dinajpur. The same team were posted in Murshidabad for election duty. But on their way they fell ill and were admitted to Malda Railway Hospital. Five were admitted to the hospital on Saturday and four were admitted yesterday.

The district health (malaria) department has sent detailed reports to the state health authorities in order to assist precautionary measures.

Dr D Sarkar, Malda Railway Hospital, said: “All nine jawans are receiving proper treatment here and are gradually recovering”. n sns

525 persons did not vote

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 3: The Malda election officials have identified a total of 525 people who had registered their names in polling stations but did not cast their vote for any candidate.

This is the first time that the Commission has instructed the district election officials to register the names of persons in polling stations who are not interested in casting their vote or have decided to oppose voting under Section 39(O) of the Representation of People Act 1951.

Though the Malda district election officials have recorded the voter turnout at 83.64 per cent in North Malda Parliamentary constituency, a total of 442 persons have been identified who were registered but did not cast their votes for any of the nine candidates.

The state parliamentary affairs minister Mr Sailen Sarkar, who was elected from the Assembly segment is contesting for the North Malda Parliamentary seat.

The area was also under the supervision of Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi as MP, who could not contest in the Lok Sabha poll due to his prolonged illness.

A total of 221 persons who registered at a polling station but refused to vote have been identified in Ratua Assembly segment in North Malda. There were 157 vote abstainers in Old Malda Assembly segment in North Malda. In South Malda Parliamentary constituency, 83 persons were registered but took no part in the polling process, where election officials recorded an 78.73 per cent turnout. A total of 35 persons in English Bazaar Assembly segment registered their names but did not cast their votes. There were 10 such persons in Samserganj and only three in Farakka Assembly constituency in Murshidabad district.

Storm kills seven

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 3: A nor’wester, bringing torrential showers, claimed at least seven lives today, including those of four minors and one woman in Malda district. Raging for around an hour, it reduced parts of English Bazaar, Kaliachak and Manikchak Blocks into heaps of debris. Power poles were grounded, trees were uprooted and lightning struck at random. The district remains plunged in darkness as the power supply is yet to be restored.

At least four persons were killed in villages under Kalichak-II. Most of the deaths were attributed to electrocution by lightning. One Khagendranath Mandal (45) died at Motabari when a tree fell on him during the storm. Housewife Parul Ghosh (27) of the same area was electrocuted. She was returning home when the storm lashed in.

At Bangitola under Kaliachak-II, one Sadikul Sheikh (12) and Mim (8) of Gangaprasad gram panchayat were electrocuted while picking up mangoes that had fallen in the storm.

The Malda sub-divisional officer, Mr Prakash Pal, confirmed the death of Pramod Mandal (12), a resident of Kamalpur, and Phulkumar Mandal (23) of Hiranandapur under Manikchak Block. While the former died after being hit by a fallen branch, the latter was electrocuted.

At Naraharipur under English Bazaar Block, Rumki Mandal (7) was electrocuted as a severed electric wire fell on her.

Two persons have been admitted to district hospital so far after suffering injuries in the storm.

Many houses are reported to have been damaged in three blocks. Reports from the other blocks are yet to come.

The storm, which began at about 10.30 a.m., appears to have extensively damaged the mango crop that this district is known for. Those associated with this sector are apprehending enormous loss. Besides the impact of the storm, the production volume has been relatively low this year.

Polling staff turn voters in Habibpur

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 30: Polling staff did the job for voters by casting their votes in Habibpur village, the DM said. Barring stray incidents, polling in Malda district ended peacefully, said DM Mr Sridhar Ghosh, adding that “the voter turnout was recorded around 75 per cent up to 5 pm”.

Voters boycotted poll in nine booths at Manikchak (Bhutni Diara Island). A few people (9 to 10) cast votes in three booths at Bhutni Diara where a vote boycott had been called.

At Khempur in Chanchal where a vote boycott had been called a section of voters cast their votes. This enraged non-conformists who attacked a group of voters. Police had to lathicharge to maintain law and order.

Election officials had to replace seven EVMs due to technical problem. Though candidates have not lodged any complaint with the DM directly, the CPI-M district secretary has lodged seven complaints while Congress leader Mr Asit Bose lodged complaints over the phone with the DM.

At Chandmoni in Ratua, two Congress agents clashed with each other, the DM said. At Naldahari primary school near Golapganj in Kaliachak III, election officials sought escort after completion of polls as there was a tension following a political clash. Election officials locked the strongroom so that they cannot snatch EVMs.

Polling station no 111 in the Sujapur Assembly segment was shifted as directed by the Commission following a complaint. The CPI-M demanded re-polling in two polling stations (no 75 and 75A) in the Sujapur Assembly segment. The DM said: “We will take a decision after going through a micro observer's report and presiding officer's diary."

Police had to fire a few rounds in air in North Malda’s Chanchal to disperse agitating voters who demanded that they be allowed to vote after 5 pm.

Attack on CPM dist committee member

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 30: The CPI-M district secretariat committee member Mr Ambar Mitra claims to have been attacked by a group of Congress workers at Mirjapur More in Malda police station area early today, around 1.30 am.

Mr Mitra, who is also an election agent of Mr Sailen Sarkar, the CPI-M candidate for the North Malda parliamentary seat, said: “When I was returning from Old Malda Assembly constituency, a gang of 40 Congress workers attacked our vehicle. They tried to kill me, dragging me out of the vehicle and snatching the key of the vehicle from the driver. We managed to escape after fighting for at least 10 minutes.”

The injured CPI-M leader, Mr Mitra, got first aid from a district hospital and lodged a complaint against one Mr Mangal Sheikh, a resident of ward no 1 of Old Malda Municipality, and his associates. Police have yet to arrest the accused.

“Fearing their candidates' defeat, Congress workers are trying to attack CPI-M leaders out of frustration. The Malda MP Mr A H Khan Choudhury, contesting candidate for the South Malda Parliamentary seat, yesterday faxed a message to the Election Commission advising that they delay the election. I think he acted out of frustration,” Mr Ambar Mitra said.

“I came to know of the alleged murder attempt when I asked Mr Mitra about his forehead bandage this morning. I condemned the reported incident. If any Congress workers attacked him, police would take proper action. CPI-M workers are trying to capture booths, jamming and threatening our Congress supporters in many areas, such as Majampur in Kaliachak I block,” said Mr Krishnendu Choudhury, the English Bazaar Congress MLA.

The Malda Congress MP, Mr AH Khan Choudhury, faxed a message to the Election Commission demanding more Central paramilitary forces.

“He claimed in the fax that the district administrative officials did not provide Central forces based on the list of sensitive booths submitted to them. The fax also advocated that the election be put on hold in South Malda Parliamentary constituency until Central forces are supplied in all polling stations,” said Mr Krishnendu Choudhury.

“In many sensitive booths, the district election officials deployed state police and home guards where the CPI-M has already ‘captured’ polling stations yesterday night,” Mr Choudhury added.

The English Bazaar MLA and the Malda MP met the district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh late last night, seeking the deployment of additional Central forces.

Those who did not...

JALPAIGURI/MALDA, April 30: The Terai Dooars Committee of the Akhil Baratiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad's poll boycott call took its toll in the Alipurduar Lok Sabha constituency today. Following the boycott call, no vote was cast in 17 booths of the constituency today. The ABAVP Terai-Dooars Coordination Committee is pleased with the low voter turnout. President Mr John Barla said: “We are happy that the Adivasis of the Dooars responded to our call. It is a moral victory for us."

Adivasi voters abstaining from the election accounted for a low turnout in several booths of Phansidewa and Naxalbari-Matigara Assembly segments in the Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency. Voting was very poor in the Bijlimoni Hindi High School booth (No. 27/117) at Pahsidewa. According to the presiding officer, Mr Subhash Sinha, only 34 voters out of 871 electorate of the booth voted. The situation was even worse in three booths in the Matigara-Naxalbari Assembly segment. Only four to 10 voters cast their votes in booth nos 25/36, 25/ 45, 25/46, informed the Darjeeling district information officer Mr Jagadish Roy.

Meanwhile, voters of the Bhutni Diara island in Manikchak block of South Malda parliamentary constituency too boycotted poll demanding basic amenities and bridge on the Fulohar River. According to district officials, voters of more than 10 polling stations boycotted the polls in the island. n SNS

Heat claims polling official

MALDA, April 29: A polling official died and several others fell ill in the continuing heat wave in Malda today. The victim has been identified as Noor Mohammad (55). Two others - Mr Prakash Dasgupta and Mr Pankaj Roy - fell unconscious and are recieving treatment in the district hospital. According to the additional district magistrate (development), Malda, Mrs Indrani Saha, Noor Mohammad - a cultivation assistant with the sericulture departmen - died sitting in a vehicle just before moving out of the Malda Polytechnic. “He was waiting for the other members of the team. He had been deployed in the Manikchak Assembly segment. Other polling personnel, including photographers, fell ill at the dispatch centre in Chanchal,” the ADM said. The body has been sent for postmortem. The Election Commission will compensate for the death of the polling personnel on duty, officials informed. n SNS

Sonia sidelines Das Munshi in campaign blunder

MALDA, April 28: Many followers of Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, including the Congress MLAs in North Malda, have expressed unhappiness at the Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi's failure to mention Mr Das Munshi in her speech at Kandaran, Samsi.

A section of Congress leaders played the blame game till late yesterday night, accusing each other for this ‘mistake’ and for the ‘mismanagement’ of Mrs Gandhi's rally, which has also claimed the life of a dedicated Congress worker, in Harishchandrapur.

“I was hurt that Mrs Sonia Gandhi did not mention the name of our leader Priya-da in her speech,” said Mr Indra Narayan Majumdar, elected member of Chanchal panchayat samiti.

“Had any leader of Malda district Congress, including the Malda MP (Mr AH Khan Choudhury who was present), briefed her, she would not have made this mistake. No leader had informed her that she came here in 2004 for Priya-da's election campaign,” Mr Majumdar said.

The Congress MLAs, including Mr Krishnendu Choudhury from English Bazaar, pointed out the mistake to Mrs Sonia Gandhi when she got down from the dais.

“Madam (Sonia Gandhi) admitted her ‘mistake’ when the matter was pointed out. Madam said that she did not know that Mr Das Munshi was elected as MP from here,” said Mr Asif Mehbub, the Congress MLA from Kharba (Chanchal).

“Everybody expected that Mrs Gandhi would say something about Priya-da's prolonged illness during the rally,” said Mr Suresh Behani, who was another contender for North Malda.

Who drafted the speech copy for Mrs Sonia Gandhi?

A section of Congress leaders have blamed Mr Masudur Rahman, chief election agent of Miss Mausam Noor. Mr Rahman was also in charge of organising the rally there. Another section is blaming Mr Pranab Mukherjee, the external affairs minister, who was with Mrs Gandhi.

Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Mr Pranab Mukherjee did not say a single word about Priya Ranjan Das Munhsi in the rally yesterday but they recalled the memory of the late ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury repeatedly to beg votes for Miss Mausam Noor.

In other election news, the CPI-M cadres have been alerted by their district leadership to check the ‘communal trend’ of voting, following the shadow of ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury in North Malda.

It was also reported that Miss Noor and her followers are confident enough of getting huge number of votes from Harishchandrapur I & II, Chanchal I & II and Ratua I & II blocks where 65 to 67 per cent (based on census report 2001) people belong to the Muslim community.

The cadres are worried about a similar trend in Gazole, where Muslim population is 21 per cent. Muslims are predicted to lean towards Miss Noor because she belongs to the family of a Muslim Pir at Pandua, Gazole. n sns

Congress arranges for attack on CPI-M committee secretary

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 28: Tension prevails in Sujapur Assembly segment in South Malda LS seat under Kaliachak police station.

The CPI-M alleged that criminals backed by the Congress attacked its local committee secretary Haji Sheikh Ketabuddin last night and opened fire at him.

Ketabuddin, who had contested in the last Sujapur by polls against the Congress MLA Miss Mausam Noor, managed to escape.

Two groups exchanged bombs and gunfire last night after the information came to light that Ketabuddin had been attacked.

Police arrested one 'Saharul' last night on charge of attacking the committee secretary, to maintain law and order before the elections.

Though the CPI-M alleged that the Congress attacked his party leader Ketabuddin, the Congress leaders, including the general secretary of the district committee Mr Hassan Ali Shah, countered the CPI-M comments and said: “The CPI-M backed miscreants are trying to terrorize the people just before the election. It is their common practice.”

Police are keeping a close eye on the situation and waiting for adequate Central forces to deploy in the sensitive areas.

The district police administration had lodged one company Central force at Sujapur for a route march through various sensitive areas under Kaliachak police station areas, centring on the Sujapur areas, which were identified as ‘socially trouble spots’ by the local police station.

The main Sujapur town area is now under the control of the CPI-M. The other parts are under the control of the Congress. These areas, like Sujapur and Kaliachak, have given a decent lead to the Congress candidates for the last few decades.

Catch her young!

MALDA, April 27: Age seems to be a bar, this election. The date of birth of Miss Mausam Noor, Congress candidate for North Malda parliamentary constituency, is 15 October 1979, but her nomination papers had a different story to tell. On 3 April, when she filed her papers to contest the forthcoming elections, her form~ Form 2-A, read that she was twenty seven.

This has sparked off fresh controversy, especially in the light of Mr Pranab Mukherjee's remark that Miss Noor was a little girl. The external affairs minister had made the comment while campaigning in Gazole a few days back.

Taking advantage of this, BJP candidate for North Malda, Mr Amlan Bhaduri said: “Why did she suppress her original age in the nomination paper? Did she submit another affidavit about her age? Election Commission should change its form and should ask all candidates to mention date of birth in future".

Clearing her stand, Miss Noor said: “My date of birth is 15 Oct 1979. But in the electoral roll, it has been mentioned as 27".

Her chief election agent too supported her stand. “I know she is 29 year old. She declared her age based on voters’ list to avoid any controversy. Age is not the factor here because she declared ‘I have completed 27 years of age’ in Form 2(A)." n SNS

Man dies at Sonia rally

Statesman News Service

KANDARAN April 27: One person died and seven others were injured when a broken branch of a tree fell on them at Kandaran in Samsi during Mrs Sonia Gandhi's rally on Monday. A large crowd had assembled at the meeting venue and ignoring the security instructions many broke barricades and entered the reserved areas to catch a glimpse of Mrs Gandhi.

Chaos followed soon after during which the branch of a tree, on which 12 boys were sitting, broke off and fell on those gathered under it. Mohd Abujar (65), a Congress supporter of Jagannathpur village in Harishchandrapur was injured. He was taken to Ratua hospital for treatment but succumbed to his injury. Three more injured persons are undergoing treatment at the Malatipur health centre and two critically inured persons have been referred to the Malda district hospital.

Sonia calls Left dictatorial

Statesman News Service

LALGOLA/SAMSI/ISLAMPUR, April 27: Sharing the dais with Trinamool chief Miss Mamata Banerjee for the first time in eight years, Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi today attacked the Left Front government for running a “dictatorship” in West Bengal and failing to tackle poverty during its 32-year rule.

The UPA chairperson, campaigning for external affairs minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee at Lalgola, a small settlement in Jangipur Lok Sabha constituency, said the Left Front government had created conditions for anarchy to prevail in the state. “In the name of democracy, the CPI-M has perpetrated dictatorship in the state... committing atrocities on political opponents and depriving the people of their legitimate rights,” she alleged.

Attacking the government over its handling of the Singur and Nandigram land-related controversies, she said, “People there had to face government-sponsored violence and those who lost their land got a thrashing from the state government."

She said the Left Front government has failed to provide basic amenities to the people in the rural areas. “Had CPI-M's policies been proper, people would not be so poor in West Bengal in 32 years,” she said.

Miss Mamata Banerjee, who gave the warcry, “Bury the CPI-M in the polls ” also slammed the state government on several issues, including poverty, women trafficking and unemployment. Mr. Pranab Mukherjee said the Left Front government has not done anything to implement the NREGA scheme. “Does the Left government have a reply as to why daily wagers were given for only 22 days’ works on average out of 100 work-days under the job guarantee scheme? Implementation of employment guarantee scheme is far better in other states,” he said.

Later, addressing another election rally at Samsi, in North Malda constituency, Mrs Gandhi promised to implement the Sachar Committee recommendations for the minority community if the Congress returns to power.

Continuing her attack on the LF government, Mrs Gandhi said: “The Central government had formulated many programmes for the poor and the farmers since 2004 but the Left Front always opposed those. The West Bengal government failed to issue job cards for the poor people and failed to provide employment under the NREGA schemes.”

She also took a dig at the Third Front and the race for the Prime Minister's slot among a section of leaders. “They do not have the vision or aim to serve the people. All they want is power, which is why there is a race among many of the proposed Third Front leaders for the Prime Minister's post,” she stated.

Mrs Gandhi followed up her Malda rally with another at Islampur in North Dinajpur district for the Raiganj Congress candidate Mrs Deepa Das Munshi.

Malda gears up to host Sonia and Buddha

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 26: The Malda Congress is preparing for its final election campaign for Miss Mausam Noor in North Malda, with the Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi due to appear at a rally at Kandaran in Samsi tomorrow.

The district police administration has stepped up security covering the entire area of Samsi following the instruction of the special protection group (SPG). The top officials of the SPG have given specific guidelines to the Congress leaders, including the candidate for North Malda Miss Noor, and asked them to follow these guidelines at the rallies.

“We are facing difficulties in following the guidelines of the SPG to the point in our organisation of the programme for Mrs Sonia Gandhi here,” said Mr Masudur Rahman, chief election agent of Miss Noor and vice-president of the district Congress. Mrs Gandhi will be arriving here around 11.30 a.m. tomorrow, according to Congress leaders. District police have provided manpower for maintaining access control and to enforce anti-sabotage measures in Samsi.

The Congress will also organise another programme for the external affairs minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee and Mr AH Khan Choudhury at Kaliachak area in South Malda parliamentary constituency, to take place around four p.m. tomorrow. The CPI-M meanwhile, will also be organising a rally at Pakuahat in North Malda for party candidate Mr Sailen Sarkar tomorrow morning, which the chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee will address.

Mr Bhattacharjee will be coming from Raiganj to Pakuahaat in the morning by road and will rest at the Old Circuit House in English Bazaar town. He will then leave for Kolkata by train. Besides the chief minister, another politburo member Mrs Brinda Karat will address four election rallies in Malda district.

According to the CPI-M party office, Mrs Brinda Karat will address a rally at Chanchal in North Malda around three p.m. on 27 April, and at Baishnabnagar in Kaliachak III under the South Malda parliamentary area at around six p.m. on the same day. On 28 April, her last day of campaigning, Mrs Karat will address a meeting at LIC More in English Bazaar town at 8.30 am in South Malda and another at Gazole in North Malda around one p.m. for Mr Sarkar. The district police face the difficult task of providing the large number of police personnel needed to ensure these rallies are peaceful and secure.

Insult to people of Bengal: Buddhadeb

SAMSI/NEW DELHI, April 25: “We do not need to learn anything from Mr. Rahul Gandhi about farmers’ and poor people’s plight in West Bengal”, chief minister Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said today.

Addressing an election rally at Samsi in North Malda parliamentary seat, the CM reacted sharply the comments of Mr Gandhi about Bengal and said: “ We will never learn any thing from Mr. Rahul Gandhi. What does he know? He was not born when we had struggled to develop the lives of farmers and downtrodden people in this state. He needs to learn more and study more about the West Bengal where poor farmers have got betterment in their lives”. “His remarks against our state and our farmers have humiliated them”, he added.

CPI-M leader, Mr Sitaram Yechury, too termed Mr Gandhi’s attack on the Left government in West Bengal as “tantamount to insulting the people of Bengal”. He told reporters in New Delhi that the people of West Bengal had elected the Left Front government seven times in a row. “Why are the people continuing to repose faith in the Left? If you say they are doing so for the wrong reasons, then it is tantamount to insulting the people of Bengal,” he said. SNS

Rahul fire hits Cong in IAY

MALDA, April 24: A remark concerning unspent Indira Awas Yojna funds by Mr Rahul Gandhi at English Bazaar in South Malda constituency during a poll campaign has put the Congress in an embarrassing spot in Malda today, as the grand old party controls the Malda zilla parishad whose responsibility it was to spend the funds.

Addressing a political rally at English Bazaar today Mr Gandhi stated: “The UPA government had allotted Rs 30 crore in Indira Awas Yojna funds for Malda district but the district has spent only Rs 12 crore, which is 40 per cent of the fund. The rest of the fund is in the hands of the state government.” Indira Awas Yojna funds are spent through the zilla parishad and unfortunately for both Mr Gandhi and the Congress, the Malda zilla parishad is in the hands of the Congress.

Despite the damage done, most Congress leaders are avoiding a reaction, except AICC member Mr Asit Bose. “The moment Mr Gandhi uttered the words, I told the district Trinamul president Mr Dulal Sarkar that this would cause real damage,” Mr Bose said.

Acutely embarrassed, the MZP sabhadhipati Mrs Sabina Yeasmin said: “We have allotted the entire IAY funds to all gram panchayats for implementation.” n SNS

Rahul wonders what CPM did in Bengal

Statesman News Service

PURULIA/KHATRA (Bankura)/MALDA/JALPAIGURI, April 24: Congress general secretary, Mr Rahul Gandhi, today lashed out at the Marxists alleging that they had failed to stand by the poor as and when required in West Bengal.

He arrived at the tribal dominated town of Khatra in Bankura to campaign for the Congress candidate for Bankura Mr Subrata Mukherjee.

He said: “The Communist government has been in power for considerable time here, but I don’t understand why they couldn't do anything for thousands of people suffering hunger, unemployment and poverty. It’s a shameful situation.”

More than 20,000 people had gathered, braving a temperature 46 degree Celcius. Senior leaders of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, who have fielded a candidate against Mr Mukherjee in Bankura were also present in the rally to welcome Mr Gandhi. While talking about the UPA, Mr Gandhi said: "It is the UPA that stood beside the tribal and the downtrodden. In five years we have launched several Guarantee Rojgar Yojnas, midday meal in the schools aiming to help total elevation of the poor people in the villages. Also it was the UPA that tried to exempt agricultural loan worth Rs 70 crore during its tenure because it had certain firm pro-people policies.” Mr Gandhi today described the Left Front government in West Bengal as backdated and said: “The country needed to move on and advance in the fields of science and technology, not get bogged down by the Left parties’ anachronistic ideas like blocking the nuclear agreement with the USA.” Mr Gandhi said this while addressing an election rally for the South Malda Congress candidate in English Bazaar town today.

In a second rally of the day in north Bengal at Malbazaar for the party's Jalpaiguri candidate Mr Sukhabilash Barma, Mr Gandhi said that the people were frustrated with Left Front misrule in the state. “While the whole country is heading towards a brighter future, the CPI-M has no intention to move with the pace. The West Bengal government has failed to implement the Central projects like NREGS, Indira Awas Yojna etc. earmarked for the benefit of the people,” he alleged.