Kolkata, 30 October (H.S.) :

Chopra MLA Hamidul Rahman has strongly rebutted Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s recent allegations against him, claiming that the accusations surfaced only after he expressed his intention to return to Mamata Banerjee’s camp. Accepting the Chief Minister's challenge, Rahman asserted that there are no pending cases against him and welcomed the police administration to take legal action if they find any evidence.

The controversy erupted following Rahman’s recent support for the announcement of returning to Mamata Banerjee’s fold from the Ritabrata faction. Subsequently, addressing a public gathering in Raiganj, Uttar Dinajpur, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari labeled Rahman as a 'notorious goon and mafia'. Adhikari directed the police administration, including the SP, DIG, and IG of Islampur, to reopen all old cases registered against the Chopra MLA.

Responding to the Chief Minister’s remarks on Friday, Hamidul Rahman clarified that he has no pending cases. He stated that the Akbar Ali murder case has already been resolved in court. I have been in jail. I was framed in a false case for political reasons. Later, the court declared me innocent and acquitted me. There is no case pending against my name, Rahman asserted.

Rahman suggested that the Chief Minister might have been misinformed. He challenged the administration to investigate if any case files or documents exist. He is the Chief Minister, he has the administration. If there is a file, investigate it. If something is found, take legal action. No one is above the law. But I am not going to be intimidated by this. If there is a legal battle, I will face it, he stated firmly.

During the Raiganj rally on Thursday, Chief Minister Adhikari had also raised the issue of alleged encroachment on government land, tea garden land, and tribal land in the Chopra, Goalpokhar, and Chakulia areas. He directed officials to free these lands from encroachment and warned of action against those responsible for alleged atrocities during the 2021 assembly elections and 2023 panchayat elections.

Addressing these specific land-grabbing allegations, Rahman agreed that legal action must be taken against anyone who has illegally occupied tea gardens or land. However, he claimed that he is in contact with over 200 tea gardens in Chopra, and no garden owner has ever filed a complaint against him in a police station or court. He maintained that garden owners have been working peacefully during his union's operations and suggested that the Chief Minister should ask the owners if their situation was better in the last six months or earlier.

Rahman concluded by alleging that the Chief Minister made the statements based on incomplete information provided by others, reiterating his readiness to face any legal scrutiny.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh