Congress councillor slams Asok

TT, Siliguri, June 23: Sujoy Ghatak, the leader of the Congress at Siliguri Municipal Corporation, today alleged that mayor Asok Bhattacharya was more interested in doing politics, instead of solving civic issues, and threatened a movement if services were not improved.

The statement by Ghatak, who was elected the chairman of borough III of the civic body, was seen as a jolt to the mayor and the Siliguri model Bhattacharya conceived.

"We are disappointed over the mayor's performance. He often raises his voice over the state's refusal to grant funds. However, there is an array of issues which needs his immediate attention. No money is required to implement the ban on plastic carry bags, improve conservancy services and remove illegal shanties. But the mayor is not doing anything. He is more interested in doing politics," said Ghatak.

He threatened to launch a movement against the civic board if the issues he had mentioned were not resolved immediately. "We submitted our proposals to the mayor today and are waiting to see whether they would find place in the civic budget that would be tabled next week. If the mayor continues to be silent on these issues, we will resort to a movement across Siliguri."

Bhattacharya, who was away in Calcutta, couldn't be contacted.