JALPAIGURI NEWS

Separate district demand

The proponents of a new district to be curving out of Jalpaiguri district, the Alipurduar Jela Nirman Dabi Mancha (AJNDM) appealed to the chief minister to meet them any day during his ongoing North Bengal tour that began on Friday. The convenor of the AJNDM Mr Nirmal Das, also an MLA from Alipurduar, said, they wrote a letter to the chief minister requesting him to talk with them during his North Bengal tour to discuss the longstanding proposal of making a new district. Mr Das hoped that the CM might invite them to talk over the issue before 14 February. Mentionworthy, Alipurduar MP and a former minister Mr Manohar Tirkey is the president of the AJNDM. The AJNDM is struggling for a long to get Alipurduar sub-division of Jalpaiguri district as a separate district as it is very far from the Jalpaiguri district headquarters.

Strike in Jalpaiguri district

RSP dominated United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) claimed that about 35,000 workers from different unorganised sectors observed a daylong strike in Jalpaiguri district on Friday. The strike was called by North Bengal Construction Workers' Union.

Jalpaiguri district TUCC secretary and Alipurduar MLA, Mr Nirmal Das said the state government should not encourage the contractual system in any sector. This system is damaging the interests of government employees especially in departments like PHE and Health. "Today's strike should be an eye-opener otherwise we shall be compelled to initiate a greater movement demanding abolishment of contractual appointment system in government departments," Mr Das said.