Did Trinamool MLA Humayun Kabir Justify His Actions After Offering Money to a Grieving Family?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Humayun Kabir's actions raise questions about political accountability.
- His justification hinges on his role as a representative of a voluntary organization.
- The victim's family declined financial support, highlighting their grief.
- Political implications of such incidents should not be overlooked.
- Trinamool Congress's response could set a precedent for future actions.
Kolkata, June 30 (NationPress) Humayun Kabir, a Trinamool Congress MLA representing the Debra Assembly constituency in West Midnapore district of West Bengal and a former IPS officer, has responded to the show-cause notice issued by his party last week. This notice was a result of his decision to meet and extend financial support to the family of a 13-year-old girl who tragically lost her life in a bomb blast in Kaliganj, Nadia district, without prior notification to party leadership.
While Kabir has not disclosed the specifics of his response, insiders reveal he neither acknowledged wrongdoing nor issued an apology.
According to a senior party member familiar with his reply, Kabir argued that his actions should not be seen as anti-party conduct.
Kabir stated that he approached the victim's family not in his capacity as a Trinamool Congress representative or leader, but as a member of a non-political voluntary organization he is affiliated with, offering assistance solely on the organization's behalf.
His response also mentioned that the victim's mother declined the financial offer. The reaction of the Trinamool Congress to Kabir's explanation remains to be seen.
The notice came after the party deemed Kabir's actions, as well as his failure to inform them beforehand, a source of embarrassment. Party leaders felt Kabir's actions implied he was acting on behalf of the party to mitigate further controversy surrounding the incident.
To date, nine individuals have been arrested in connection with the murder of the minor girl, Tamanna Khatun.
Family members and local residents allege that the girl was struck by shrapnel from a bomb thrown during a victory procession for the ruling Trinamool Congress, celebrating the election win of candidate Alifa Ahmed in the recently concluded Kaliganj bypolls.
The victim's mother has accused district police officials of neglecting the political context of the bombing that targeted their home, resulting in her daughter's death.
She claimed their residence was specifically targeted due to their family's longstanding ideological alignment with and active involvement in the CPI(M).