A demonstration by a little-known outfit of depositors and agents duped by Ponzi schemes slowed down traffic movement in and around the heart of Calcutta for several hours this afternoon.
The protest was held at the Rani Rashmoni Avenue crossing for four hours from 1pm. According to the administration’s estimates, around 10,000 people had gathered at the crossing. The organisers said over 30,000 people took part.
Many of the demonstrators came from Assam, Bihar and Jharkhand and walked in processions to Rani Rashmoni Avenue from Howrah and Sealdah stations. Those from Calcutta marched to the venue from Wellington Square.
Sandip Chowdhury takes a closer look at the programme, its organisers and their demands.
THE OUTFIT
The All Bengal Chit Fund Depositors’ and Agents’ Forum. Set up in January 2015, the forum claims a member strength of 56,302. Lawyer Rupam Chowdhury is the outfit president while depositor Biswajit Sapui — who lost Rs 3.5 lakh in a Ponzi scheme — is the secretary.
Economist Tarun Sanyal, filmmaker Satarupa Sanyal, social activist and writer Miratun Nahar, advocate Gitanath Ganguly and singer Pratul Mukherjee are some of the advisers to the forum. None of them was present today.
THE DEMANDS
Refund to duped depositors, security for agents, arrests of “big names” associated with such schemes and a probe into the alleged involvement of some bureaucrats.
The outfit also demands a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the next of kin of those depositors and agents who committed suicide.
A delegation of outfit members went to Nabanna this afternoon to submit a memorandum to chief minister Mamata Banerjee. After failing to secure an appointment with her, they met education minister Partha Chatterjee.
The outfit said Chatterjee had accepted the memorandum and assured it that the government would consider the demands.
Chatterjee refused comment. A cabinet colleague said the acceptance of the memorandum was a “basic courtesy, nothing more”.
POLITICAL LEANING
None, the forum said.
Leader of the Opposition Abdul Mannan, who is associated with the Chit Fund Sufferers’ Unity Forum led by former Naxalite leader Asim Chatterjee and backed by several senior Left and Congress leaders, said attempts had been made to merge similar outfits to increase the impact of protest movements.
“This forum is apolitical and wants to stay that way, which is fine. I attended some of their meetings before becoming the leader of the Opposition,” Mannan said.
PROTESTS SO FAR
The All Bengal Chit Fund Depositors’ and Agents’ Forum has held 13 rallies so far.
The outfit has planned a march by over 50,000 people from Shyambazar to Esplanade on September 28.
After Durga Puja, the forum plans to block roads and gherao Nabanna if no action is taken on its demands.
TRINAMUL RESPONSE
The minister who spoke of “courtesy” said Trinamul had no reason to worry. “The Assembly polls have shown that the vast majority of the electorate does not care about chit funds, Saradha, Narada or any other slander the Opposition has thrown at us. Why should we?” he asked.
