Deb tantrum greets residents

TT, Siliguri, Feb. 28: North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb today lost his cool when a few residents of Kawakhali near here approached him to complain about the drinking water problem in the area.

Later, he regained control and asked them to meet him in his office on March 2.

Deb was in Kawakhali in Matigara block around 12 noon to lay the foundation of a five-storied building of Siliguri Journalists' Club. As he walked to unveil a plaque, over 20 local people, mostly women, approached him.

"We are getting water from wells or tube-wells. But the water is not clear; its rich in iron content and not fit for drinking. Nobody is bothered about our problem," one of them said. As others echoed him, Deb lost his cool. "You please move away. I have come here for a programme and let me do my job," the minister said before walking away.

Mamoni Das appeared disappointed. "We have been facing the problem for years. As we saw the minister in our locality today, we rushed to him to narrate the problem. He did not listen to us and instead, reprimanded us."

After unveiling the plaque, the minister, however, spoke to the people and asked them to meet in his office. "There was no problem at all. Some residents had come to me with their problems. I was attending an official event and told them to meet me in my office on March 2," Deb said.