CM Mamata Accuses BJP and CPI-M of Threatening Bengal's Education System
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Synopsis
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused BJP and CPI-M of trying to dismantle the education system in the state. Her comments followed a Supreme Court ruling that upheld a Calcutta High Court order canceling 2016 teaching appointments.
Key Takeaways
- BJP and CPI-M accused of undermining education.
- Supreme Court upheld job cancellations by WBSSC.
- Mamata questions the motives behind legal actions.
- Concerns over the stability of the education system.
- Legal team reviewing options for a petition.
Kolkata, April 3 (NationPress) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asserted on Thursday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) are working towards dismantling the entire educational framework in the state.
This statement came in response to the Supreme Court's decision to uphold a prior ruling by the Calcutta High Court, which annulled all teaching and non-teaching appointments made by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in 2016.
She did not clarify if the state government plans to file a review petition against the recent Supreme Court ruling.
Mamata specifically criticized CPI-M Rajya Sabha member and prominent advocate of the Calcutta High Court, Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya, who has been involved in the legal proceedings from the start, while also indirectly targeting Abhijit Ganguly, a judge of Calcutta High Court and current BJP Lok Sabha member, who initially called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the multi-crore cash-for-job scandal in schools.
Nevertheless, the Chief Minister did not mention Ganguly's name even once.
Additionally, she criticized Sukanta Majumdar, the state BJP president and Union Minister of State.
“A former judge of the Calcutta High Court has for the first time discussed this job cancellation. He is now a BJP Lok Sabha member. I am unaware of his name or surname. So, it is clear what has transpired,” the Chief Minister remarked while speaking to reporters on Thursday afternoon.
Mamata also took aim at Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, who has represented the affected candidates throughout various courts, including the Supreme Court.
“He was the one who initiated the case that led to the cancellation of numerous jobs. He is the most renowned lawyer in the world; I am contemplating recommending him for the Nobel Prize,” the Chief Minister stated.
She further criticized Sukanta Majumdar for his earlier comments attributing the plight of many candidates solely to her, claiming there was no way to differentiate between “genuine” and “ineligible” candidates who obtained jobs through illicit means.
“Why is he targeting me? What unlawful actions have I committed? When the initial case was filed, eligibility should not have been a consideration. Why is Bengal consistently in the crosshairs?” the Chief Minister questioned.
On this occasion, she expressed concern that the loss of jobs for many teachers could lead to the collapse of the academic infrastructure in the schools where they teach.
“That is why I assert there is a conspiracy to destabilize the education system in the state,” the Chief Minister claimed.
Regarding the potential for a review petition, she mentioned that the legal team is currently assessing the situation, and no further details are available at this time.
