Asok slams Deb's 'vendetta' - Uncivilised act by minister, says uninvited mayor

BIRESWAR BANERJEE and SOUMYA DE SARKAR, TT, Siliguri, June 29: Mayor Asok Bhattacharya today said minister Gautam Deb had insulted him out of political vendetta by not inviting him to the launch of the toy train service at Surya Sen Park yesterday.

The toy train didn't run today even as hundreds of children and their guardians gathered at the park to avail themselves of the ride.

A meeting was organised at the park today by the Left to protest the "humiliation" of the mayor. Bhattacharya, along with the deputy mayor and other Left councillors, held the meeting at the amphitheatre inside the park.

Addressing a gathering of 300-odd people, Bhattacharya said: "I have been deliberately insulted by the north Bengal development minister (Gautam Deb) yesterday merely out of political vendetta. It is an uncivilised act. I am going to lodge complaints with All India Mayor Council in New Delhi and Institute of Local Self Governments in Mumbai against my humiliation as the chief of the local civic body by the minister."

He also threatened to hold citizens' convention first in Siliguri and then in Calcutta where people's representatives from all civic bodies, along with intellectuals, would be invited.

Deb, on the other hand, found no fault with his decision of not inviting the mayor personally to the toy train service launch. "Some unnecessary misunderstandings have cropped up over the invitation to the inauguration of the toy train. Officials of Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority had sent an invitation letter to their counterparts in Siliguri Municipal Corporation. Being a minister, I cannot send such an invitation. We have no intention to disrespect the mayor, but the way the mayor is reacting to the issue is very unfortunate," said the minister.

The toy train didn't run today as the authorities couldn't fix fares. The train was on the track for the whole day with its engine covered with polythene, much to the disappointment of children who enquired at the ticket counter for tickets.

A ticket vending staff member said: "We have no tickets for the toy train. We also don't know when tickets will be available at the counter."

S.W. Bhutia, the SMC commissioner, said: "We have taken up the fare issue with the mayor. It will be finalised soon."