District cry in election season

TT, Islampur, April 7: An apolitical organisation that has been demanding a separate Islampur district has put posters across Islampur town and nearby areas, seeking the support of candidates of all political parties.

"We have been demanding since 1991 that Islampur should be made a separate district. The district headquarters is at Raiganj,115km from here. Also, Chopra, the farthest block of the district, is around 140km away from Raiganj. People across Islampur sub-division face several problems, as far as the administrative and other work is concerned they need to travel to Raiganj," Pasharul Alam, the spokesperson of the Transferred Area Suryapur Organisation (TASO) that has put up posters in Islampur, said today.

"Now that the Assembly polls are ahead, we have put up posters and banners in all the five Assembly segments of Islampur subdivision, demanding that the contesting candidates should voice our demand and make appropriate moves after the polls so that the demand is met. We had banked on the current state government that it would meet our demand. Some other districts were formed.... But unfortunately, the demand of residents in Islampur subdivision has not been met," he said.

Back in 1956, under the recommendations of the state reorganisation committee, Islampur subdivision was included in the then West Dinajpur district after carving it out of Bihar. Also, 19 other mouzas of Bihar were included in the Phansidewa block in adjoining Darjeeling district.

"It was recommended then that the entire transferred area would be a separate district and that the culture and heritage of residents living in these areas would be preserved. Nothing, however, has been done so far. We have raised the demand time and again and want the political parties and elected representatives to act now. Our organisation is also planning an extensive movement in the coming days," Alam said.

Such sudden reiteration of the demand by TASO ahead of the polls has prompted candidates of different political parties to comment cautiously but also express solidarity with the outfit.

Abdul Karim Chowdhury, the departing MLA and the Trinamul candidate of Islampur seat, said the present government has taken some steps at the administrative level for the convenience of people.

"In 1992, West Dinajpur was divided into North and South Dinajpur. This is why Mamata Banerjee had put impetus on development, instead of mulling over dividing the district again. Branch offices of several government departments have been opened in Islampur during past five years. Also, the district magistrate sits in Islampur for three days every month," Chowdhury said.

Imran Ali Ramz, the departing MLA and the Forward Bloc candidate of Chakulia has planned to make the district formation an issue in the polls.

"I have raised this demand time and again but the present government has never listened to it. Even though a number of new districts were announced, the demand for Islampur was not heard. I will mention it in my campaign that the Trinamul government is indifferent to the demand," Imran said.