SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Feb 28: Congress Jamtara MLA Dr. Irfan Ansari has mended fences with Nirsa BJP MLA Aparna Sengupta over the Nirsa-Jamtara boat incident in the Barakar River on February 24. However, he lashed out at the BJP MPs of Dhanbad and Dumka for their silence on the mishap.
In wake of the boat tragedy, Dr Irfan Ansari met BJP MLA Aparna Sengupta at her Nirsa residence over her agitation for the completion of the under-construction bridge connecting Barbendia Ghat of Nirsa (Dhanbad) to Birgao Ghat of Jamtara and announced support to her demand.
The BJP MLA held the state government responsible for the boat tragedy and said that it could have been avoided had Chief Minister Hemant Soren paid attention to her request.
On the other hand, Congress firebrand MLA Ansari said that Aparna Sengupta has been agitating for the completion of the Barbendia bridge for a long time and the state government would have to pay attention to her demand.
He said had the bridge been constructed, the tragedy would not have occurred. “I would sacrifice my life by jumping from the under-construction bridge into the Barakar river if the bridge is not completed soon,” Dr Irfan announced.
Dr Irfan Ansari’s statement in favour of Aparna Sengupta’s agitation keeps significance as earlier on February 26, he had called upon the affected villagers not to allow BJP leaders’ entry in Jamtara.
He said that the tragedy occurred in his Jamtara constituency. So, he would not tolerate the blame of tragedy. He rued that the BJP leaders were making him a target for the tragedy while he had sent his father Furkan Ansari (former MLA) on the spot the same night after the incident.
Even after the boat tragedy, while Nirsa MLA Aparna Sengupta sat on dharna outside the assembly on February 25 holding the state government, especially Chief Minister Hemant Soren responsible, Jamtara Congress MLA Dr Ansari raised the issue inside the assembly.
Notably, after meeting with Nirsa MLA, Dr Irfan Ansari praised Aparna Sengupta but lashed out at Dhanbad BJP MP PN Singh and Dumka BJP MP Sunil Soren for keeping mum on the boat tragedy.
“Even after four days of the tragedy, they (PN Singh and Sunil Soren) have not spoken a single word for the sympathy of the victims’ family,” he said.
Jamtara district falls in Dumka Lok Sabha constituency while Nirsa is under the Dhanbad area.
Despite repeated attempts, Dhanbad MP PN Singh and Dumka MLA Sunil Soren could not be contacted for comments.
