A security guard ties the shoes of Planning Minister Rachpal Singh at Nabanna on Monday. (Source: Express Photo) A security guard ties the shoes of Planning Minister Rachpal Singh at Nabanna on Monday. (Source: Express Photo)

Bengal Planning Minister Rachpal Singh on Monday courted controversy when his personal security guard was caught on camera tying his shoe laces at state secretariat Nabanna.

The incident occurred in the afternoon after Singh — a former IPS officer — came out of Nabanna after paying homage to reputed sculptor Ramkinkar Baiji on his birthday.

Dressed in denim trousers and a half-sleeved shirt, as Singh started to wear his sneakers, his personal security guard bent down and not only helped him put his shoes on but also tied the laces.

Police officers posted at the secretariat expressed their dissatisfaction over the incident. “What can I say? This is how we work here… We can’t protest as we have to keep our jobs,” said an officer on condition of anonymity.

While Singh was not available for comment, the Opposition reacted sharply to the incident. BJP MLA Shamik Bhattacharya said that it showed the mindset of Trinamool Congress leaders.

“Looks like Rachpal Singh has not been able to come out of the ugly hangover of the time when he was an IPS officer. He has displayed that the TMC is ruling the people and not serving them,” he added.

CPM leader Anisur Rahman, meanwhile, raised the matter at the Assembly.

“As the Speaker was not present at that time, I took the permission of Chairman Parash Dutta and raised the matter. Trinamool Congress Minister Subrata Mukherjee tried to say that such issues cannot be raised just like that. But when I asked why and under what provisions, he had no reply. I raised the topic and called this act not only illegal but inhuman. This is the new culture of Nabanna,” he said.

Congress MLA Manas Bhuniya echoed similar sentiments. “What the honourable minister did to the policeman on duty shows that he has not been able to come out of his feudal character. I think Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should take this matter seriously and take corrective steps,” he said.

A Trinamool MLA from Tarakeswar, Singh is a 1974-batch IPS officer and had joined Trinamool after retirement. Initially, he was the tourism minister in the Trinamool Congress government. Later, he was given the planning portfolio.

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