Political

Some say Khagen Murmu - the MP, Malda (Uttar) suffered the brunt of public outrage because of his political affiliation with the saffron party, but some, after the debate intensified chose to subscribe an alternative opinion that the MP and his political colleague Shankar Ghosh, MLA, Siliguri were attacked ruthlessly out of the affected people's collective outburst venting anger against the swelled up'creamy layer.' 

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi already has rubbished the TMC for the attacks and suggested that the Mamata Banerjee government rather should expedite the salvage of the flood affected families than unleashing attack on the BJP leaders those were assigned to carry relief to the perturbed patches. 

 

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rushed to flood-hit North Bengal to supervise rescue and relief, has also given sharp reaction to Modi's remarks saying: "It's not the right time that a PM would get busy kn creating narratives sitting in comfort zone. Instead, he should extend hands of cooperation to collaborate restoration works." 

 

Amidst war of words between the politicians, the troubled North Bengal districts are desperately seeking an absolute recovery and stabilisation.  Also, some raised questions about the role of the Central Forces assigned to protect the BJP leaders - Murmu and Ghosh. "Several lakhs of public money are spent to 'pet' them round the years, but they failed to counter the assailants in crucial time. What’s the use of maintaining them? Are they assigned to reflect just the status symbol of such leaders elected from the rural pockets," asked social activist Subrata Mallik. He said: "Considering their repeated failures, Inow feel that I should file one Public Interest Litigation asking the Government to furnish the details of total expenses incurred from the public exchequer to 'pet' such so called decorative Forces." 

 

The PM and the CM however didn't focus on the alleged 'lapses' of the Central Forces. Modi on Monday termed 'appalling' the attack on BJP MP Khagen Murmu and party MLA Sankar Ghosh. He said the attack highlighted 'absolutely pathetic law and order situation in the State of West Bengal'.  

“The manner in which our party colleagues, including a sitting MP and MLA, were attacked in West Bengal for serving the people affected by floods and landslides is outright appalling. It highlights the insensitivity of the TMC as well as the absolutely pathetic law and order situation in the State,” Modi posted on social media.

 

The Prime Minister expressed hope that the West Bengal government and the Trinamool Congress would be “more focused on helping people rather than indulging in violence in such a challenging situation”.

 

Reacting to the remarks made by PM Modi, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said it was “unfortunate and deeply concerning that the Prime Minister of India has chosen to politicise a natural disaster without waiting for a proper investigation, especially while people in North Bengal are grappling with the aftermath of devastating floods and landslides”.

 

Sixty five year old Khagen Murmu is an MP from Malda Uttar Lok Sabha Constituency. He has served three terms as an MLA from Habibpur constituency as member of CPI(M) from 2006 to 2019, besides, two times Zilla Parishad Member as Bidyut Karmadkha and Served as a Sahakari Sabhadhipati of Malda Zilla Parishad.

 

Shankar Ghosh currently a politician from BJP was elected as a member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from Siliguri Constituency in 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election. He was appointed Chief Whip of West Bengal Legislative Assembly in 2024. In 1991, he had joined the CPI-M where Ghosh - a teacher by profession served as a prominent leader in North Bengal till 2021 and then switched to BJP.