TMC posters demand Malda minister’s removal

Sabina Yeasmin accused of corruption and highhandedness by party leaders and workers of Mothabari

A person pastes a poster urging Sabina Yeasmin’s removal in her Assembly constituency Mothabari.: Soumya De Sarkar

Soumya De Sarkar   |   TT  |  Malda   |   27.04.22  : The minister of state for irrigation, north Bengal development and self-help groups departments, Sabina Yeasmin, was accused of corruption and highhandedness by Trinamul leaders and workers of Mothabari, her home turf from where she won the Assembly elections last year.

On Tuesday, Trinamul leaders and workers of Mothabari put up posters in the area, demanding Yeasmin’s removal “from responsibilities” but did not specify which ones. They accused her and her husband of collecting money from people. They also claimed that Abdur Rahim Boxi, the Malda Trinamul president, and some others acted as her “stooges”.

In recent years, this is the first time in north Bengal that posters were put up by Trinamul supporters against an MLA and a minister of their own party.

“Sabina Yeasmin and her husband are ruining Trinamul and taking money from people on different pretexts. While some are promised jobs, others are being asked to pay funds for the party. If any of us raise a voice against her, her husband threatens to implicate (the complainant) in false police cases,” said Sudhir Das, the block Trinamul president of Kaliachak-II under which Mothabari Assembly constituency is located.

Das, along with party leaders like Tinku Rahaman Biswas of the block, alleged that even though they had informed the district leadership about Yeasmin’s activities, the district Trinamul president and others did nothing.

“They are acting as the minister’s stooges. The district president should be removed and Yeasmin’s wings be clipped immediately to save the party not only in Malda but the entire north Bengal. We have sent letters to Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, seeking their intervention,” the leader added.

On Tuesday, groups of people who claimed to be Trinamul supporters roamed around Mothabari, pasting posters in different locations of Yeasmin’s constituency to demand her removal.

Yeasmin denied the charges and volunteered to resign if the charges against her were proved.

She accused Das of resorting to violence and assaulting several elected Trinamul representatives who serve in panchayats, and party workers.

“Recently, many Trinamul leaders and workers asked Das to clarify why he indulged in such violence. This irked him. He is anticipating his own removal and is thus raising baseless charges against me,” Yeasmin said.“If it is proved that I have taken a single paisa from anyone, I will resign,” she added.

Boxi, the district Trinamul chief, said they would look into the allegations. “We have convened a meeting on April 30 to discuss the allegations. But simultaneously, we will say that those who put up such posters have acted against the interest of the party,” said Boxi.