Burman plans rally, Trinamul gets jitters

GCPA leader Bangshibadan Burman

MAIN UDDIN CHISTI, TT, Jan 27, 2018, Cooch Behar: The Greater Cooch Behar Peoples' Association (GCPA) has planned a two-day event next week.

Bangshibadan Burman, the GCPA general secretary, said on Saturday that on January 31, they will hold a public meeting at Saheberhat located on the outskirts of the town to mark the 508th birth anniversary of Chila Roy, one of the prominent warriors of the Cooch Behar royal family.

Shukladhwaj, popularly known as Chila Roy, was the brother of King Naranarayan of Cooch Behar. "On January 30, we will organise a workers' meeting at the same place," said Burman.

GCPA had been demanding that Cooch Behar be conferred the status of a state. This had made the government put Burman in two important posts. He is the vice-chairman of the Rajbanshi Development & Cultural Board and Rajbandhi Bhasa Academy - floated by the state for development of the community and for conservation of their language.

Also, Atul Roy, president of Kamtapur Progressive Party, that has similar demands, was also made vice-chairman of Kamtapuri Bhasa Academy.

"Burman however, has not joined Trinamul. He has tried to create pressure on Trinamul. Recently, he had held a rally under the banner of GCPA with the demand that he should be elevated to the chairman's post at the board," said an observer.

This is more so because the BJP has been steadily focussing on Cooch Behar.

But Burman denied any politics behind the event. . "It is wrong to draw any political inference. So far as the rural elections are concerned, decisions can be made and altered even at the last minute."

Trinamul leaders are keeping a close watch. "We all are proud of Chila Roy for his heroism and he does not represent a single community. The state has been working for Rajbanshis in a consistent manner," said north Bengal development minister Rabindranath Ghosh.

House plan

The state has decided to provide houses to 500 poor Rajbanshi families living in the districts of Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling. Ahead of the panchayat elections, it is being seen as a move to woo the community.

Anantadeb Adhikari, the chairman of Rajbanshi Development & Cultural Board, said: "The fund would be spent to provide houses to poor Rajbanshi families in four districts of north Bengal."