Partha attends, Suvendu skips govt event on Adivasi Day

Jhargram: Trinamool leader and state transport minister Suvendu Adhikari gave a miss to a government programme in Jhargram on Sunday to mark International Day of World’s Indigenous People. Adhikari’s name was in the official invite along with education minister and Trinamool secretary general Partha Chatterjee .

While Chatterjee turned up at Sido Kanhu Hall, the transport minister took stage at a private programme 8 km away at Sialgeria Maidan. The Sialgeria Club along with 45 other clubs had organized it.

Adhikari’s absence raised eyebrows when the TMC leader has been frequenting Jhargram since 2009. “I have been coming to this district since 2009. I have travelled across this district sometimes by bicycle between 2009 and 2020 and took time off to attend Adivasi festivals badhna, tusu and makar. I have been and will be with you,” he said, while distributing sports equipment to Adivasi youths.

Chatterjee didn’t want to rake up the issue “I don’t want any debate on this issue. I would have been happy if he (Suvendu) had made it to the government programme.” he said. PCPA-turned-Trinamool leader Chhatradhar Mahato attended the government programme.

Chatterjee seized the opportunity to reassure Adivasis that the state was working to include Alchiki in higher education. “There is a growing need for Alchiki teachers in colleges after 124 students passed the HS writing in Alchiki. The state is setting up a teachers’ training college for Alchiki teachers. Sabang College has been asked to introduce Alchiki language,” he said.

Adhikari said he had arranged for a job for archer Monika Soren at the Kolkata branch of Contai Cooperative Bank. “Promising footballer from Purulia Lakshmi Mandi, needed a job to run his family. He has qualified the written examination for recruitment in Vidyasagar Central Cooperative Bank We will absorb him,” the minister, who happens to be the chairman of cooperative banks, said.

The transport minister also mentioned how he reached rations for a fortnight, masks and soaps to 3,100 Lodha-Sabar families in Jhargram, 4,800 such families in Purulia and 5,000 families in Bankura.