Governance

‘Erasing History’ – Why is there opposition in Bengal to Mamata’s plan to create new districts?

August 6, 2022
Bharat Times

Kolkata: Any other name may smell sweet as a rose, but a new name for a divided district could spell an identity crisis – and anger – as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is finding out, especially in Nadia and Murshidabad. In the case of districts.

This Monday, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief announced that within six months the state government would create seven new districts from the existing ones, taking the total number from 23 to 30, to enable better administration.

The plan is that two districts, Berhampur and Jangipur, will be created from Murshidabad, Nadia to Ranaghat, Bankura to Bishnupur, Ichamati and Basirghat divisions of North 24 Parganas and one more district from Sunderbans in South 24 Parganas. Pargana

Many residents of Murshidabad and Nadia districts, however, do not understand this, arguing that the move will reduce their historical importance, including their respective reputations as ‘Londons’ and ‘Oxfords’ of West Bengal. is included.

While Murshidabad was the pre-colonial capital of Bengal and 18. was the site ofth-Century Battle of Plassey, a turning point in the colonization of India, Nadia is known as the birthplace of 15.th-Sage Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and as a center of learning.

the protesters took to the streets This week parts of Nadia demanded the withdrawal of the decision as it threatened her legacy.

Sections of the political establishment in these districts are also unhappy. According to a report in Trinamool’s mouthpiece wake up banglaParty MP from Murshidabad Abu Tahir Khan told Mamata at a party meeting in Delhi on Thursday that the people of the district were against the name change arising out of Partition. Mamata reportedly cut them short and said that nothing has been finalized yet.

While those against the decision are calling for legacy and history, some opposition leaders have also challenged its fiscal soundness, others arguing that partition would help bring about better governance in Bengal, which is the fourth-largest state in India. is the most populous state, where a an average of about four million people Live in each district (as per 2011 census).

For context, the most populous states – Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra – have 75, 38 and 36 districts respectively. Even some of the less populous Bengal’s neighbors have more districts, with Assam at 35 and Odisha at 30.

“Ideally, a district should have a population of around 20 lakhs, but Bengal is the second most densely populated state after Bihar. With a population of over 10 crore, Bengal should have had at least 50 districts by now. But 30 is wajib,” said Basudev Banerjee, a retired IAS officer and former Bengal home secretary.

A state government has the power to form districts without requiring the concurrence of the central government. It can either pass a law in the Assembly or issue an order and notify it in the Official Gazette. According to officials, however, the government needs to go beyond the Calcutta High Court as the new districts will need to set up their own courts and judicial machinery.

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A perceived threat to ‘history and heritage’

Murshidabad’s biggest claim to fame is that it was the site of the 1757 Battle of Plassey, where the East India Company led by Major-General Robert Clive defeated Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah and set the stage for British colonial expansion. India.

Even now, the major attractions in Murshidabad are the remains of the Nawab era, including mosques, palaces, gardens and tombs, but there is also a sense of pride in the importance it inherited from the British.

Speaking to ThePrint, Congress MP from Berhampur constituency in Murshidabad, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, said he was not against the creation of new districts, but was opposing the name change.

Lord Clive compared Murshidabad to London. It is a historical place and was once the capital of united Bengal, Bihar and Odisha. Mamta cannot delete her name of her own free will. I will not let him change the name,” said Chaudhary.

BJP MLA from Murshidabad Gauri Shanker Ghosh also tweeted demanding that the district be converted into a Union Territory so that its “integrity” and “glory” remains.

Meanwhile, in Nadia, protests broke out in Shantipur and Krishnanagar after the CM’s announcement. The protesters raised slogans, held placards and blocked roads, claiming that the decision to carve out Ranaghat from Nadia would deprive them of the rich cultural and historical heritage associated with the district.

Known as the ‘Oxford of Bengal’, Nadia District 15. is the birthplace ofth-Century Vaishnava saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is believed to be a joint incarnation of Radha and Krishna. The Peasant Rebellion of 1859, known as the Nile Rebellion, also started from Nadia. During the Partition, a large part of Nadia went to the then East Bengal (now Bangladesh).

“Our roots are related to Nadia, our feelings are related to Nadia. Overnight the government decided to divide Nadia and we will no longer be residents of our beloved district. Our identity is being snatched away. Why this sudden decision?” asked playwright Kaushik Chattopadhyay while addressing a street performance in Shantipur.

Some have also argued that the name Ranaghat for the new district is inappropriate as some associate it with name of a dacoit from the 1800s.

The residents of Bankura have also expressed their unhappiness over the decision of the state government.

“Vishnupur is part of Bankura. Till now both could have been governed as one district – what is the need to divide Bankura and Vishnupur?” said Somnath Pramanik, a resident of Bankura.

mixed reaction

Mamta Banerjee has maintained For a while That, given the size and population of Bengal, there is a need to increase the number of districts for administrative efficiency and implementation of programmes.

“Small districts always help in better governance even in terms of reaching the district headquarters,” said former home secretary Banerjee.

Banerjee said that state governments have the power to create, alter or remove districts by issuing an executive order or by passing laws in the Legislative Assembly, but without requiring the approval of the central government, they have to go through the High Court, Banerjee said. Told.

“The decision to create new districts will require approval from the High Court as per protocol. The HC then appoints the district judges. It helps to process cases faster as we know the burden of tests. Along with a new district, a new superintendent of police will be appointed and there will also be a district magistrate, which will add to the good governance,” he said.

However, the opposition is not on the same page as the West Bengal government.

Addressing media persons, BJP spokesperson Shamik Bhattacharya: “Such decisions require proper planning, but it is clearly missing the way the announcement was made suddenly. Bengal is already in debt and now, with seven more districts, it will add to the financial burden of the state.”

CPI(M) leader Dr Sujan Chakraborty also claimed that it was an “irrational move” without any consultation.

“It is a cynical approach, it was neither discussed in the assembly, nor an all-party meeting was convened before the announcement nor did the chief minister form a committee to decide it. We are not against the creation of more districts, but the process has clearly created anger among the people,” he told ThePrint.

(Edited by Aswari Singh)

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