Member of the Mayor-in-Council (MMIC) and Trinamool councillor of ward 46 of Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC), Dilip Barman, on Thursday also hit out at Mayor Gautam Deb and Deputy Mayor Ranjan Sarkar and accused them of being biased towards the Rajbongshi community.
“In the 2022 civic polls, they did not send my name as a candidate because I am from the Rajbongshi community. But the party gave me a ticket because of my reputation and I won. They could not accept it and are after me because I am the only Rajbongshi councillor in the civic body,” Barman alleged.
His allegation comes a day after his heated exchange with Deb and Sarkar, and SMC chairman Pratul Chakraborty during the civic body’s monthly board meeting. Deb, Sarkar and Chakraborty are all Trinamool leaders.
Chakraborty and Sarkar had asked Barman to leave when the situation heated up and Barman questioned the sudden halt of the demolition drive of illegal portions of a building located in his ward. Barman was told that the matter was sub-judice and no questions would be asked of him. He walked out angrily, saying he would not let these officials hinder the development of his area.
“The way they treated me yesterday (Wednesday) shows that they are against the Rajbanshi community,” Barman added.
On Thursday morning, some people from the community, who claimed to be Barman’s supporters, blocked the road at Baneshwar More, a major crossing on the eastern bypass adjoining the city.
“We expressed our protest because Dilip Barman of our community has been insulted by the mayor and deputy mayor,” said a protester.
The blockade lasted for about an hour before Barman arrived at the scene and asked his supporters to vacate the road. The supporters stood by the side of the road, raised slogans for some time and then left.
Barman’s playing of the community card embarrassed the Trinamool, which is trying very hard to increase its base in the Rajbanshi-dominated areas of north Bengal. The community decides the outcome of nearly half of the 54 assembly seats.
Reacting to Barman’s remarks, Deb said, “I have been in politics for nearly five decades and I have never been accused of such an issue (bias towards any community). This has hurt me a lot.”
“In the board meeting on Wednesday, he (Barman) had raised an issue which is sub-judice in the court. Given its importance, the chairman did not allow him to do so. This is a very common occurrence. But the way it has been presented is shocking,” he said.
Sarkar said: “We will apprise senior party leaders about Barman’s behaviour and his remarks.”
Barman’s conduct and his allegations against the mayor and deputy mayor have angered most of the Trinamool councillors of the SMC.
A senior Trinamool councillor said, “We will send a protest letter to our party leader (Sarkar) in the SMC demanding appropriate action against Barman. He cannot misbehave like this and make comments against the mayor and deputy mayor. We consider such acts against the party.”
