Bengal teachers' recruitment verdict: PM Modi accuses TMC of massive corruption; Mamata hits back, calls BJP 'job-eater'

NEW DELHI: The Calcutta high court order cancelling appointments of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff has tuned into an election issue in West Bengal with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Mamata Banerjee trading barbs at each other over the development.

PM Modi on Friday slammed the Mamata government and said Trinamool’s massive corruption has ultimately resulted in the loss of peace and happiness of around 26,000 families in the state. Speaking at an election rally in Malda, PM Modi said the youth of Bengal had to suffer because of the Trinamool Congress. He emphasised how the TMC’s involvement in scams has not only jeopardised the future of Bengal’s youth but has also adversely affected thousands of families.

“The teacher recruitment scam snatched the livelihood of around 26,000 families. The youth who took loans to pay bribes to the TMC leaders are now burdened by this situation too. The Centre is working towards generating jobs for the youth of the country,” he said.

Mamata Banerjee responded sharply to the BJP attacks calling the saffron party a “job-eater” and said the people of West Bengal would not forgive its leaders for “conspiring to snatch” the livelihood of nearly 26,000 teachers.

“You have heard about maneater tigers, but have you heard about the job-eater BJP? Did you see the glee on the face of the leaders of the BJP, CPM and Congress after so many people were rendered jobless by the court?” she asked the people at the rally.

“I don’t want to comment on the judgment or say anything about the judges. But after taking away the jobs of 26,000 youths, you are asking them to return the salary along with 12 per cent interest. Can you take jobs like that? Give them a chance to rectify. How can 26,000 people be treated in such a way?” she asked.

The Calcutta high court had on Monday ordered the cancellation of appointments of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff made through the recruitment process of State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST) in state-run schools, declaring the selection process as “null and void”.

Mamata alleged that along with the BJP, Congress and CPM were also involved in this “conspiracy” and this was evident from the reactions of the leaders of the three parties after the court gave its verdict.

“The people of West Bengal will not forgive these parties for their roles. They also filed PILs in the court and stalled any new initiative by the state government to fix the anomalies,” she said.

The West Bengal chief minister called the CPM and Congress “eyes and ears of the BJP” in West Bengal.

(With inputs from PTI)

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