A controversy over cut-money

Subhrangshu Gupta

Mamata Banerjee Of late, there has been a major controversy over the collection of cut-money by political parties following a drive launched by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in this regard.
Mamata has admitted that her party leaders and workers have also been involved in this heinous act and she wants them to immediately return their collected cut-money to the owners. She demanded that all the other parties should also follow suit.
She warned that she would ask the police for helping those who police would not spare them if they did not bother about her appeal. She asked the erring party men to return their extorted money to the businessmen, promoters and others concerned forthwith and make an example to other political parties.

Mamata claimed she had with her the detailed list of leaders and workers who were involved in the practice of extorting money from the people in the name of the party.

She alleged that certain journalists and other important and influential persons close to the ruling party in the national capital and some states were also involved in the cut-money 'trade', but she would not disclose their names now.

Mamata's warning caused a flutter in the party's rank and file. The announcement surprised them, worried them and, at the same time, annoyed some of the high-profile leaders. They alleged they had no knowledge that their leader was taking such decision since she did not consult or inform them before taking the decision which, they feared, would destroy the party.

Mamata has admitted that her party leaders and workers have been involved in this heinous act and she wants them to immediately return their collected cutmoney to the owners. She demanded that all the other parties should also follow suit.

Many people wonder if it was a part of Mamata's image building drive or a political trick for diverting the people's attention from the controversy over the party's disastrous performance in the recent Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. Her party men and even many of her close aides and family members are wondering why at this stage Mamata has taken such a decision, forcing the entire party in the dock, particularly when she and many of her party men --- ministers, MPs, MLAs - -- and some other prominent leaders and workers are already under the scanner of the CBI and other central agencies following corruption charges levelled against them.

After Mamata's announcement, several untoward incidents occurred in different areas in the State in which TMC leaders and workers, office-bearers in the panchayets and zilla parishads and municipalities, etc, had been targeted and harassed.

After her party's poor performance in the Lok Sabha polls and the BJP's massive victory in the country, particularly in West Bengal, Mamata was visibly stunned. She introspected herself for several days and searched for the causes.

She did not notice that her popularity was slowly eroding. The TMC's acceptability to the people was also declining rapidly.

She did not see that there was something wrong somewhere and that she now had to begin from the beginning. And as it's a first step, she launched a drive against cutmoney collection by political parties.

Even some ministers, MPs and party MLAs were gheraoed and assaulted by the people, who were demanding return of the cut-money they had given to them for their works.

The issue was raised, discussed and debated in the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and other public fora.

In most of these incidents taking place in Bengal, the TMC was the target of attack by the BJP. In some cases, both the Congress and the CPM were jointly attacking the TMC.

Some businessmen --- promoters and real estate management experts, motor dealers, foodgrains suppliers, etc --- had come forward and launched an agitation against political leaders, demanding return of the huge money they were forced to hand over to political leaders as cut-money.

Jyotipriya Mallick A prominent TMC minister, Jyotipriya Mallick, who was much closer to Mamata, was put in the dock by a promoter who alleged that he had to hand over Rs 30 lakh to the minister for getting a contract for supplying pulses to the people through ration shops.
Another promoter alleged he had paid Rs 20 lakh to Mallick for allowing him to construct two highrise buildings in the market area at Barast, North 24-Parganas, which falls under the minister's jurisdiction.
Another promoter in the Dum Dum-Cossipore area in North Kolkata alleged he had paid as advance to Dr Santanu Sen, a TMC MP, Rs 80 lakh in three installments for promoting business in the area.

The CMO's office at the state Secretariat admits they are receiving complaints everyday from many people duped even after giving cutmoney to ministers, MPs, MLAs, et al.

TMC secretary-general Partha Chatterjee, similarly, was frequently receiving complaints from people in this regard. He said every complaint was being looked into and, accordingly, the police was making further investigation.

The matter was much highlighted in the newspapers and it was also raised in the Assembly and Parliament.

Loket Chatterjee The newly-Elected BJP MP of Hooghly, Loket Chatterjee, an actorturned-politician, alleged in the Lok Sabha that Mamata herself was the biggest collector of cut-money. According to her, in Bengal now, people had to pay cut-money at every stage everywhere to the TMC for getting their work done, be it for recruitment in government offices, teaching jobs in schools and colleges or any other establishments. It is alleged that patients are supposed to give money for getting admission in hospitals and also getting back the bodies of their dead for cremation.
Another MP, Arjun Singh, who recently joined the BJP after leaving the TMC, also made similar allegations against the state’s ruling party.
This is bound to further weaken the TMC if not taken with the seriousness it deserves.



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She warned that she would ask the police for helping those who police would not spare them if they did not bother about her appeal. She asked the erring party men to return their extorted money to the businessmen, promoters and others concerned forthwith and make an example to other political parties. Mamata claimed she had with her the detailed list of leaders and workers who were involved in the practice of extorting money from the people in the name of the party. She alleged that certain journalists and other important and influential persons close to the ruling party in the national capital and some states were also involved in the cut-money 'trade', but she would not disclose their names now. Mamata's warning caused a flutter in the party's rank and file. The announcement surprised them, worried them and, at the same time, annoyed some of the high-profile leaders. They alleged they had no knowledge that their leader was taking such decision since she did not consult or inform them before taking the decision which, they feared, would destroy the party. Mamata has admitted that her party leaders and workers have been involved in this heinous act and she wants them to immediately return their collected cutmoney to the owners. She demanded that all the other parties should also follow suit. Many people wonder if it was a part of Mamata's image building drive or a political trick for diverting the people's attention from the controversy over the party's disastrous performance in the recent Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. Her party men and even many of her close aides and family members are wondering why at this stage Mamata has taken such a decision, forcing the entire party in the dock, particularly when she and many of her party men --- ministers, MPs, MLAs - -- and some other prominent leaders and workers are already under the scanner of the CBI and other central agencies following corruption charges levelled against them. After Mamata's announcement, several untoward incidents occurred in different areas in the State in which TMC leaders and workers, office-bearers in the panchayets and zilla parishads and municipalities, etc, had been targeted and harassed. After her party's poor performance in the Lok Sabha polls and the BJP's massive victory in the country, particularly in West Bengal, Mamata was visibly stunned. She introspected herself for several days and searched for the causes. She did not notice that her popularity was slowly eroding. The TMC's acceptability to the people was also declining rapidly. She did not see that there was something wrong somewhere and that she now had to begin from the beginning. And as it's a first step, she launched a drive against cutmoney collection by political parties. After Mamata's announcement, several untoward incidents occurred in different areas in the State in which TMC leaders and workers, office-bearers in the panchayets and zilla parishads and municipalities, etc, had been targeted and harassed. Even some ministers, MPs and party MLAs were gheraoed and assaulted by the people, who were demanding return of the cut-money they had given to them for their works. The issue was raised, discussed and debated in the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and other public fora. In most of these incidents taking place in Bengal, the TMC was the target of attack by the BJP. In some cases, both the Congress and the CPM were jointly attacking the TMC. Some businessmen --- promoters and real estate management experts, motor dealers, foodgrains suppliers, etc --- had come forward and launched an agitation against political leaders, demanding return of the huge money they were forced to hand over to political leaders as cut-money. Jyotipriya Mallick A prominent TMC minister, Jyotipriya Mallick, who was much closer to Mamata, was put in the dock by a promoter who alleged that he had to hand over Rs 30 lakh to the minister for getting a contract for supplying pulses to the people through ration shops. Another promoter alleged he had paid Rs 20 lakh to Mallick for allowing him to construct two highrise buildings in the market area at Barast, North 24-Parganas, which falls under the minister's jurisdiction. Another promoter in the Dum Dum-Cossipore area in North Kolkata alleged he had paid as advance to Dr Santanu Sen, a TMC MP, Rs 80 lakh in three installments for promoting business in the area. The CMO's office at the state Secretariat admits they are receiving complaints everyday from many people duped even after giving cutmoney to ministers, MPs, MLAs, et al. TMC secretary-general Partha Chatterjee, similarly, was frequently receiving complaints from people in this regard. He said every complaint was being looked into and, accordingly, the police was making further investigation. The matter was much highlighted in the newspapers and it was also raised in the Assembly and Parliament. Loket Chatterjee The newly-Elected BJP MP of Hooghly, Loket Chatterjee, an actorturned-politician, alleged in the Lok Sabha that Mamata herself was the biggest collector of cut-money. According to her, in Bengal now, people had to pay cut-money at every stage everywhere to the TMC for getting their work done, be it for recruitment in government offices, teaching jobs in schools and colleges or any other establishments. It is alleged that patients are supposed to give money for getting admission in hospitals and also getting back the bodies of their dead for cremation. Another MP, Arjun Singh, who recently joined the BJP after leaving the TMC, also made similar allegations against the state’s ruling party. This is bound to further weaken the TMC if not taken with the seriousness it deserves.