The Trinamool Congress leadership attempted a damage control after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s comments that leaders who took "cut money" should return it to people or face action has triggered protests in various parts of the State.
On Monday, the State’s ruling party faced heat in the State Assembly when the MLAs of Congress and Left parties staged a walkout demanding an explanation from the Chief Minister on her remarks. The MLAs demanded discussion on the issue. Protests have erupted in different parts of the State with locals and a section of BJP supporters targeting Trinamool leaders alleging that they have been taking " cut money" for years.
Cut money is the amount or percentage of money that is illegally charged by elected leaders, from grass roots like panchayat functionaries and councillors to higher ups in the political order from ordinary citizens in return of delivery of certain services or entitlements to them. Protests have erupted in Bardhman, Birbhum, Malda, Jalpaiguri, Purulia and Uttar Dinajpur districts of the State. Taking advantage of the situation and the anger among common people in certain cases the local BJP leadership has targeted the elected representatives of Trinamool.
At Mangalkote, in Bardhman locals ransacked the house of a panchayat functionary Rina Chakraborty alleging that her husband Pradip Chakraborty took “cut money” from people. The TMC leadership had to take shelter in a nearby party office of TMC.
Locals also blocked roads in Raiganj in Uttar Dinajpur as a mark of protest.
