Home offered for Swapna

Jalpaiguri MP Bijoy Chandra Burman felicitates Swapna’s parents on Sunday. Picture by Biplab Basak 

AVIJIT SINHA, TT, Siliguri: Jalpaiguri Trinamul MP Bijoy Chandra Burman called on Asian Games winner Swapna Burman's parents on Sunday and promised them a house as the ruling party and the BJP continued to seek to capitalise on her victory to their advantage.

Burman reached Swapna's home at Ghoshpara near Jalpaiguri, along with Trinamul MLA Khageshwar Roy, and felicitated the athlete's parents.

In his capacity as the chairman of the Rajbangshi Bhasa Academy, the MP announced that the body would provide a house to the athlete's family.

"We are all with you. We will extend whatever help you need," the MP said.

Burman then told Swapna's mother, Basana: "The Rajbangshi Bhasa Academy will provide you with a house."

After Swapna had won gold medal in the women's heptathlon at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta on Wednesday, chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh and a job for her.

S.S. Ahluwalia, the BJP MP of Darjeeling and a Union minister of state, visited her home on Saturday. He made Swapna's mother speak to Union sports minister who promised an assistance of Rs 30 lakh from the Centre and a job for her daughter.

"Leaders of different parties, mostly from Trinamul and the BJP, are visiting the athlete's house every day. The block administration has started laying concrete mix to improve the road that leads to her house. The road has been muddy till date. We hope Swapna's achievement would help improve the infrastructure of our area," said Dipak Sarkar, a resident of Ghoshpara.

The Jalpaiguri district administration has also taken up the task of handing over Scheduled Caste certificates to the Burman family.

"Earlier, they had been running from pillar to post to get the SC certificates. Now, they are sitting at home and the administration is doing the needful. Swapna's success has changed it all," said Krishna Burman, another resident.

A section of the villagers believes as Swapna is from the Rajbangshi community, the BJP and Trinamul are trying to galvanise the support of the community by announcing doles for her family. "It seems leaders of both the parties are considering it as an opportunity to win the support of the Rajbangshi population. The parties want to drive home the point that they are doing their best to recognise her achievement," a resident said.