Congress offers vegetables to executive engineer as ‘bribe’ for canal work
BHUBANESWAR: In a unique protest against corruption, Congress activists led by the party’s Cuttack district president on Tuesday offered vegetables and clothes to an executive engineer to get the pending canal road work done at Khandaita panchayat in Cuttack Sadar block. Cuttack district unit president of Congress Manas Choudhury along with other members of the party reached the office of the executive engineer, Prachi division, Pratap Chandra Choudhury and started questioning him on various issues and problems pertaining to the canal and canal road at Khandaita panchayat. Alleging that the engineer was not willing to take up the pending project without percentage commission, the Congress activists offered him a bunch of vegetables and clothes to take up the work at the earliest. “Since the farmers and labourers who have been demanding immediate repair of the canal road are unable to offer percentage commission to the engineer in cash, they decided to give vegetables and clothes so that he takes up the work at the earliest,” said Choudhury. The party activists reportedly made the executive engineer sit on his chair and accept their offerings to initiate the work. Though the latter pleaded innocence during the incident, he reportedly assured the protesters of fulfilling their demands within a week. Source: The New Indian Express
Congress Leader Manas Choudhury Raises Voice & Protest At Irrigation Office Over Road Construction
Congress Leader Manas Choudhury Raises Voice & Protest At Irrigation Office Over Road Construction
Congress leader offers clothes as commission for completion of road work in Cuttack
The office of the Superintendent Engineer of Prachi Division witnessed a unique protest when some Congress members arrived there to demand the completion of an under-construction road to Khandeita village under Cuttack Sadar Police limits. Alleging that Superintendent Engineer, Pratap Chandra Choudhury was demanding bribe, one of the protesters, Brajakishore Sahoo offered his pant, shirt and the vegetable he was carrying home as bribe in place of cash. The protest was led by Cuttack district Congress president, Manas Choudhury. Manas, who arrived at the office with a nameplate hanging from his neck that read, I am Manas Choudhury, said, “I had called the Superintendent Engineer many times requesting him to complete the road in the Panchayat. But he never paid heed to my requests and sent me to other officers only to delay the work. He even said that he does not know me. That is why I have come here with a nameplate.” “Finally, when I put more pressure on him, he even sought bribe in return for completing the road. Finding no other way, a poor man of the village offered his pant, shirt, and the vegetable he was taking home to cook as bribe,” he alleged. Protestor Brajakishore Sahoo said, “I had come here eight times to urge the officer to complete the road. But when he asked for bribe, I offered vegetables and my clothes as I do not have any money to offer as bribe.” Asked about the allegations, Choudhury said, “The department has not sanctioned enough money to complete the road. We are laying the road gradually as and when the money comes. As far as seeking bribe is concerned, I have never demanded anything from anybody.” However, after all the allegations and agitation, Choudhury finally assured to complete the road within seven days. Source: Odisha Tv
Congress leader donates ‘washroom door’ to Cuttack mayor after ‘fund crunch’ claim
Amounting to a rare sight, Congress leader Manas Choudhury handed over a door and a labour cost of Rs 500 to Cuttack Municipal Corporation Commissioner Nikhil Pawan Kalyan. With the rationale of having a broken bathroom door in the mayor’s office fixed, he decided to give the official a wooden plank, designed as a door. Cuttack mayor Subash Singh had not got the door repaired owing to a fund crunch, as per a source. Sources said during the CMC council meeting on Tuesday, in relation to the Durga Puja, an opposition corporator questioned Singh about his vow for development across wards. The mayor claimed that his bathroom door was broken and he was unable to fix a door in the bathroom due to a resource crunch. Soon after the mayor attempted to justify the inaction, members of the Congress Committee on Wednesday bought a bathroom door, loaded it on a trolley and handed it over to the commissioner. A team led by Cuttack District Congress Committee chief met the commissioner and requested him to forward it to Singh. Speaking to India Today, Manas Chodhury said, “The mayor yesterday told the Cuttack Municipal Corporation council meeting that he was facing difficulties with getting a new door for his washroom. As a resident of Cuttack city, I have come forward to donate a new door for the mayor’s washroom. I have also provided Rs 500 to the CMC Commissioner for the carpenter’s remuneration. Hope the broken door of the mayor’s office is replaced soon.” “I have never seen such a helpless mayor. If a mayor cannot fix a door of a bathroom, what work will he do for the CMC and the people of the city,” he remarked. The Congress leader alleged that the mayor has splurged nearly Rs 50 lakh from the public exchequer for the renovation of his official residence. “The mayor is saying that the CMC has no money for a new door for his washroom!” he said. Source: India Today