BDF protests over irregularities regarding Gandhi Mela entertainment; demands calling of E-tender

For the past six years, a company called DK Enterprise has been given the contract of entertainment of Gandhi Mela without any regard to the rules and regulations and this time also a few workers of Silchar Municipality Board are trying to give contract to the same businessman. Barak Democratic Front sent a memorandum to Silchar District Magistrate regarding this.

Speaking in this regard, BDF Media Cell Chief Convenor Joydeep Bhattacharjee said that Gandhi Mela is a traditional fair of the valley and Silchar Municipality has been responsible for organising it for a long time. Therefore, it is not desirable that this fair becomes a means of carrying out illegal transactions by a particular community for their self interest. He said that it appears since 2012, a company called DK Enterprise is being given the contract of entertainment of this fair every year without calling any kind of ‘tender’. It is also heard that Bihar businessman, Mukhtar Alam, the head of DK Enterprise, has close contacts and relations with a section of the Silchar municipality workers, and due to their connivance and influence, this businessman has been getting tenders for entertainment of Gandhi Mela over the years. Needless to say, illegal transactions also take place from behind and that is why a section of municipality workers become very active during the Gandhi Mela. Bhattacharjee said it is important to maintain transparency on part of the Municipality in the management and conduct of this traditional fair. And that is why this time they have demanded to the Municipality authorities to call ‘e-tender’ for getting the contract. In this way all those who are interested can participate in the tender calling process and then the one whose quoted price (rate) is lowest should be given the contract. Joydeep said if their demand is not fulfilled then Barak Democratic Front will be forced to undertake protest programs in the future.

Hrishikesh Dey, convener of BDF’s media cell, said that the last Gandhi Mela was organised in 2020. During that time the Municipality authorities were forced to close the fair midway due to the rapid increase in covid cases. At that time, Mukhtar Alam, the owner of DK Enterprise, left all his employees in Silchar and fled. If some social organisations of the city had not extended a helping hand to the employees, their situation would have been dire. Even the then Silchar MLA Dilip Kumar Paul took the initiative to arrange food, water and shelter for these employees as well as send them back to their homes. The former Silchar MLA had then publicly said that after such irresponsibility, there was no question of Mukhtar Alam being given the contract of entertainment of Gandhi Mela ever again. But the unfortunate thing is that this time too a section of people are trying to give him the contract. Therefore, Dey appealed to the Municipality authorities to maintain transparency in this regard.

Convener Debayan Dev on behalf of BDF informed this news in a press release.