The laying of a foundation stone for a market shed for fishermen at Dehri-on-Sone in Rohtas district has snowballed into a political controversy with a section of local people protesting the government's scheme.
The protesters are alleging that the land allotted for setting up the market shed had earlier been earmarked for a memorial-cum-park in honour of Shahid Bhagat Singh. The foundation stone of the memorial was laid by former union minister and RJD leader Kanti Singh in September 2001.
However, 15 years down the line, on October 28, 2016, RJD MLA from Dehri and former minister Illiyas Hussain laid the foundation stone of a market shed for fishermen on this very land. Hussain, however, claimed that Kanti Singh had not got the approval of the department concerned for the memorial.
"I have come to know that Kanti Singh, also a party leader, laid the foundation stone for a martyr's memorial without the government's approval. If she committed any wrong, why should I be blamed for it?" Hussain, considered close to RJD chief Lalu Prasad, told The Telegraph over phone today.
He pointed out that a plot of land measuring 15 decimals belonging to the water resources department had been allotted for the market shed to accommodate over 6,000 fishermen of the region. "The scheme is directly related to livelihood of fishermen," said Hussain.
He accused the BJP of fanning the protest to derive political mileage. "For 15 years, these people (read BJP) never raised the issue. Suddenly they have become active and are raising a banner of revolt in the name of Bhagat Singh's memorial," Hussain added.
The protest against the proposed market shed is being organised under the banner of Shaheed-E-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh Memorial Committee. Its joint secretary-cum-spokesman Bimal Kumar Singh said a petition had already been submitted to the sub-divisional officer in this regard.
Bimal charged Hussain and his supporters with removing the martyr's memorial from the spot. "I had drawn the attention of the local authorities when the foundation stone of the Bhagat Singh memorial was damaged recently," he said, adding that a signature campaign had been launched to garner the support of the people.
He revealed that Kanti Singh had laid the foundation stone of the memorial on September 23, 2001, on the persuasion of local residents. Bimal said the foundation stone was damaged despite the fact that it was located a stone's throw away from the Dehri police station.
"The police remained silent spectator when the matter was reported to them. I was made a scapegoat when I sought information from the authorities about action taken against the offenders. This is sheer politics and nothing else," he said.
Today, the protesters didn't allow the officials to measure the land for setting up the market shed. The two-member team had to leave the spot as the protesters outnumbered them and were aggressive.
Rohtas district magistrate Animesh Kumar Parashar said the land for the market shed had been provided by the water resources department. "I am not aware of any protest launched by local people over the government's scheme," he told The Telegraph over phone from Rohtas.
The district magistrate said he would try to persuade the locals in the larger interest of the poor people, who will get benefits from the scheme. "I am sure the issue will be settled," he added.
Dehri sub-divisional officer of water resources department engineer, Brajesh Kumar, said he would abide by his senior's order. "I have been told to ensure the implementation of the order. The land has been allotted by the head office," he said.
The department's additional divisional officer had issued a letter on September 7, 2016, stating that the land had been allotted for the market shed. A two-member team of the department headed by Kamlesh Baitha had been assigned to conduct measurement of the land at the earliest.
