BJP Claims Mamata Government Failed to Distinguish 'Tainted' Teachers from 'Genuine' Ones

Synopsis

The BJP has accused the Mamata government of failing to separate 'tainted' teachers from 'genuine' ones after the Supreme Court annulled thousands of school appointments, alleging corruption among party members involved in the hiring process.

Key Takeaways

Mamata government accused of protecting party members.
Supreme Court annulled 25,753 school appointments.
BJP demands accountability from Trinamool Congress.
Concerns raised over corruption in job placements.
Call for a distinction between genuine and ineligible candidates.

Kolkata, April 4 (NationPress) Following the Supreme Court's decision to annul 25,753 teaching positions in government schools across West Bengal, the BJP asserted on Friday that the Mamata government neglected to differentiate between 'tainted' teachers and 'genuine' ones to protect her party members who allegedly accepted bribes from job seekers.

In a statement to the media, Union Minister of State for Education & Development of North Eastern Region and BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar remarked, 'If that distinction had been made, the entire panel wouldn't have been revoked. However, the state government chose not to act.'

Majumdar further stated, 'This was avoided because Trinamool Congress leaders, who took money to secure jobs for 'ineligible' candidates, would have faced consequences. Now, 'innocent' and 'genuine' candidates are suffering due to the state government's and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's decisions.'

Despite numerous recommendations, the state government did not carry out the segregation, forcing the court to annul the entire selection process, he added.

The special bench of the Calcutta High Court, led by Justice Debangsu Basak and Justice Shabbar Rashidi, ordered the cancellation of the complete panel for 2016, which included a total of 25,753 appointments made by the West Bengal School Service Commission, due to the failure to separate 'genuine' candidates from 'tainted' ones who acquired jobs after making payments.

The state government appealed this ruling at the Supreme Court, which upheld the High Court's decision.

Majumdar's remarks came just a day after CM Banerjee accused him of unjustly targeting her and blaming her for the debacle.

According to Majumdar, 'The fear of incarceration was evident from the Chief Minister's demeanor while addressing the media on Thursday after the Supreme Court's ruling.'

He added, 'She claimed there were attempts to imprison her and blamed everyone, including myself, CPI(M) leaders, and even the Supreme Court of India. Yet she never held her party members accountable for collecting money to secure jobs.'

Senior party leader Sambit Patra criticized CM Banerjee, stating that while she refers to herself as a 'tigress', she seems to forget that 'a tigress does not condone corruption.'

'Once the BJP gains control in West Bengal, the full force of the law will target the Trinamool Congress. Those accountable for creating a precarious situation for the citizens of West Bengal will not escape justice.' Patra remarked.

He also commented that the Chief Minister's statements rejecting the Supreme Court's ruling reveal her 'dictatorial' and 'Taliban-like' attitude.