Cooch Behar's BJP MLA Faces Locals' Ire Over Suspended 100-Day Work Program Funding
Allegations and Counterclaims Surrounding Trinamul's Involvement Spark Tensions
On Saturday, a BJP MLA in Cooch Behar had to deal with irate locals over the Center's decision to halt funding for the 100-day work program.
Sitalkuchi BJP MLA Baren Chandra Barman charged Trinamul of planning the demonstrations and holding him captive for an hour. Leaders of the Trinamul movement refuted the accusation, claiming that scheme beneficiaries were demonstrating spontaneously.
Barman had visited BJP party worker Samir Roy, whose mother had passed away on Friday, at Bairagihat, a panchayat in the Mathabhanga-I block. Subsequently, the MLA proceeded to Sabitri Barman's Ashokbari home, where she was conducting a meeting with local leaders, when a group of irate citizens arrived and began yelling slogans, accusing the Narendra Modi government at the Center of having suspended funding for MGNREGS.
Many of us participated in the job scheme but were not paid. We have no work. A protester added, "The MLA did not show initiative, and since the elections in 2021, he has not made many visits to our neighborhood.
Barman attempted to appease them, but the demonstrators remained unmoving. They permitted him to go after one hour.
The MLA proceeded to the Mathabhanga police station and reported "harassment by Trinamul supporters" to the police over the phone.
Local Trinamul leaders refuted the accusation, claiming that the BJP MLA and the "central apathy" were at blame for the locals' ire.
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