After breach, better job cry

KOUSHIK SEN, TT, Mar 02, 2018, Raiganj: The two sisters who had breached Mamata Banerjee's security last month and are now in a hospital here have demanded permanent government jobs with a higher pay scale.

They have claimed that Rabia's job - she is a contractual fourth grade staff at the super-specialty hospital in Islampur - is not enough to run their families.

The demand has left a section of administrative officials disappointed, who perceive it to be an attempt to mount pressure on the state.

Opposition parties have started raising questions as why the sisters are being "informally detained" by the police at the hospital on the pretext of "ill health."

On February 22, Rabia and her sister Amira had breached the chief minister's security.

The incident had left Mamata Banerjee offended and she had openly expressed annoyance. After the sisters were intercepted by security personnel, Ayesha Rani, the district magistrate of North Dinajpur, had asserted that the administration had the siblings' family get a house and a job to one of them.

Sources at the administration said as an official was sent to their house at Rasakhowa in Karandighi block on Wednesday to collect Rabia's educational certificates.

"Her two other sisters had brought those documents at the hospital. As she (Rabia) handed the documents to us, she said that it is not possible for her to run the family with the contractual job at the hospital, as her salary is only Rs 7,500. She demanded that a permanent job with a higher salary should be provided to her," said the official.

This is what has irked the administration. "First, they breached the security for no reason. The point that they tried to make has no relation with the chief minister as she cannot intervene in judicial issues. Second, they are insisting on a permanent job now. It seems Rabia and her family are trying to exert pressure on the administration as the chief minister had sympathised with them," said an official.

Ayesha Rani A, the DM, said that they have been provided with all necessary help. "Nothing more can be done right now," she said. Meanwhile leaders of Congress, CPM and BJP have started raising questions.

"The police have illegally detained the sisters at the hospital. They should clarify as why the duo is not being allowed to leave for their home," said Mohit Sengupta, the Congress MLA of Raiganj. Mohammad Salim, the CPM MP of Raiganj, echoed Sengupta.