Trinamool Congress has fielded his brother Rukbanur for the coming civic polls from a particular ward under Kolkata Municipal Corporation, and his uncle Akilur has decided to contest from the same ward as an independent candidate.
Politics can break families. Family of dead graphic designer Rizwanur Rahman is no exception.
Rahman’s suicide rattled Bengal three years ago. His brother Rukbanur and uncle Akilur, who fought together for justice after his death, are now each other’s worst enemies.
While, Trinamool Congress has fielded Rukbanur for the coming civic polls from a particular ward under Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), Akilur has decided to contest from the same ward as an independent candidate.
Both are banking on the tragedy of Rizwanur’s life. The graphics designer, who was instructor of industrialist Ashok Todi’s daughter Priyanka, fell in love with his student. They decided to marry, but Todi was dead against the union since both were from different religions.
After months of tussle between the two families, Priyanka was ‘forcibly’ separated from Rizwanur. The graphics designer committed suicide. Todi was accused of threatening Rizwanur.
He was accused of taking the help of some top police officers.
Rizwanur’s suicide led to mass protests by rights groups.
Thousands of apolitical persons had held long candlelight processions and signature campaigns on the streets of Kolkata.
Five police officers, including Kolkata’s then police chief Prasun Mukherjee was subsequently transferred.
Opposition Trinamool seized the issue as Mukherjee was accused of getting political protection from the ruling CPI(M). The Left Front eventually lost some minority votes in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.
While Rukbanur now avoids public outbursts against his uncle and restricts to just describing the development as “unfortunate”, Akilur is not leaving any opportunity to call his nephew and Trinamool as “opportunists trying to exploit personal and political mileage” from Rizwanur’s death.
“Trinamool is using Rukbanur as its political trump card. And he is allowing Trinamool to do so for personal gains. Rizwanur is nothing but a springboard for Rukbanur’s success. But I have not forgotten the injustice meted out to my nephew. Hence I have decided to contest against him without any political backing to keep the flag of fight for justice high,” Akilur said.
Rejecting the allegations, Rukbanur said that his motto was just to fight injustice. “If I am elected, I will fight for people and will try to ensure that no one ever faces the same trauma that my family went though,” he said.
He admitted that he considers Trinamool and its chief Mamata Banerjee as the greatest well-wisher of the Rahman family.
“The way she stood by us during the hard times is unforgettable. We will always be grateful to her,” Rukbanur said.
Congress spokesman Nirbed Roy’s was the only voice of sanity in this cacophony. “All political parties have used Rizwanur’s death for their own benefit,” he said.
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