Siliguri, Sept. 10 -- The Darjeeling District Congress on Thursday staged a protest march demanding immediate elections to the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC), alleging that civic services have deteriorated since the appointment of a municipal administrator.
Congress leaders and workers marched through different parts of the city before assembling outside the SMC headquarters. Carrying placards, they staged a demonstration outside the main gate and protested by breaking earthen pots. A delegation later submitted a memorandum containing their demands to the Municipal Commissioner.
Subin Bhowmick, President of Darjeeling District Congress, said: "Civic services in Siliguri have suffered since the appointment of the municipal administrator. Residents have to suffer for that. Municipal elections should be held immediately and an elected civic board be formed."
A day earlier, the Left Front had also conducted a march to the SMC with the same demand. Organised by the Darjeeling District Committee of the Left Front, the protest march began near the Mahananda Bridge and proceeded towards the civic headquarters.
Senior Left leader Ashok Bhattacharya participated in the protest. Bhattacharya alleged: "The BJP is interfering at every level, including in the functioning of the municipal corporation. We demand that the government form a municipal board at the earliest."
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Sara Bharat Krishak Sabha, Darjeeling District Committee, organised a rally demanding an end to the deadlock in the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad and submitted a memorandum based on several demands.
The rally began from beneath the Mahananda Bridge near Airview More and proceeded to the Mahakuma Parishad office.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.