People's Democracy
(Weekly Organ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
No.
18
May 10, 2009
|
Vol. XXXIII
No.
18 May 10, 2009 |
AS we have stated in these columns recently, the Trinamul Congress is really, getting desperate. It despairs of political survival as the Lok Sabha elections draw inexorably closer in Bengal. Otherwise, how does one explain the hoarding that says �I am the late Ajit Panja, MP, from Kolkata, speaking from heaven: please vote for the AITC candidate because Mohd Salim has not utilised his Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MP LAD) funds and the funds have gone back to Delhi.�
That is only the tip of the iceberg. All over the Kolkata North segment, posters without carrying the by-line of any political party keeps saying much the same thing with, as in cheap musical scores, carrying the distortions, and using more and more unparliamentary language. Communal angles are utilised too mentioning how Muslims have benefited in Hindu dominated areas and the other way round, treading thus on dangerous grounds.
As Mohd Salim himself put it at a press briefing at the Muzaffar Ahmad Bhavan on April 25, arbitrary figures are quoted by the Trinamulis while accusing him of non-utilisation of MP LAD funds. Sometimes it is Rs 8.58 crore, then again, elsewhere on another hoarding it is Rs 7.79 crore as funds not used.
During his tenure as an MP, Salim has recommended 423 pieces of developmental work and the cost is Rs 10.71 crore. And 35 per cent of the schemes relate to the development of educational institutions, especially girls� schools and hostels. Another 28 per cent is concerned with development of slums and uplift of the poorest of the poor.
The Trinamulis should know that under the guidelines for MP LAD funds, it is clearly written that such funds are neither lapsable nor returnable with the previous MP�s unused amount devolving on the new MP. Would the Trinamulis care to listen or even try to appreciate the words of central government guidelines? No, they would not for, they have no time left on their hands after cooking up all kinds of savage mish-mash of defamation and calumnious propaganda, even as the gloom-and-doom of the Lok Sabha elections in Bengal forecloses on their leader and her ranks.
(B P)
