Siliguri, 02nd October: A controversy has erupted in Siliguri’s Bharat Nagar area over an alleged demand for ₹1.5 lakh as a Durga Puja donation from a landowner and promoter. The allegation has been levelled against some members of Bharat Nagar Athletic Club.
According to landowner Ratan Pal, the club members initially demanded ₹1.5 lakh as a Durga Puja donation. He claimed that although he agreed to pay ₹50,000, some club members insisted on the full amount.
On Friday, several club members allegedly arrived at the under-construction residential building over the demand. Pal alleged that after he refused to pay the full amount, the construction work was stopped and the workers at the site were asked to stop working.
Pal expressed his dissatisfaction and alleged that attempts were being made to force him to pay the money. He said he would approach Siliguri MLA and state minister Shankar Ghosh over the matter.
However, the secretary of the concerned club completely denied the allegations. He claimed that the club had not demanded such an amount from anyone and that false allegations were being made against the club.
The allegations and counterclaims have led to a dispute over the construction work at the site in Bharat Nagar.
