‘BJP Snatched Away Jobs Of Teachers’: Mamata After Modi Urges Help For ‘Honest Candidates’ In SSC Scam Case

As PM Modi asked West Bengal BJP to create a dedicated legal cell to support those affected by the SSC scam case, CM Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of conspiring to snatch away jobs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed the West Bengal BJP to establish a dedicated legal cell to assist genuine teachers and candidates affected by the SSC scam case, drawing sharp criticism from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Modi's remarks came during his consecutive election rallies at Bardhaman-Durgapur, Krishnanagar, and Birbhm.

In response to the PM's directive, Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of orchestrating a conspiracy to snatch away jobs from the people of West Bengal. She claimed, "The BJP snatched away the jobs of school teachers in West Bengal. They had hatched a conspiracy to take away those jobs."

The Calcutta High Court's order on April 22 nullified the recruitment process of the State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST) in West Bengal government-sponsored and aided schools, leading to the cancellation of around 26,000 appointments.

Modi Vs Mamata Over Bengal SSC Scam Case

Modi assured support to those affected by the SSC scam, particularly genuine candidates who lost their jobs. He stated, "I have asked the Bengal BJP unit to create a separate legal cell and social media platform to provide help to genuine candidates and teachers."

Modi emphasised the need to differentiate between the perpetrators of corruption and innocent victims, promising to hold wrongdoers accountable while safeguarding the interests of the innocent. He said, "Although we want those involved in corruption to be punished, the innocent should not suffer. BJP will support such honest candidates and will provide them legal help and will fight for them."

He also vowed action against perpetrators saying, "Today, I guarantee to the youth of Bengal that Modi will not let those who have made the youth of Bengal cry sit in peace. This is Modi's guarantee that the culprits involved in looting the people of the state through various scams won't be spared."

Mamata Banerjee, however, accused the BJP of hypocrisy, alleging the party's involvement in the court case that led to job losses. "Now because of elections, the Prime Minister is making such remarks. It is the BJP which was part of the court case that took away the jobs. Now they are making false promises," she asserted.

The TMC supremo also highlighted the BJP's alleged unfulfilled promises in Tripura, where similar assurances were made before coming to power in 2018. "It had said the same thing before coming to power in Tripura when 10,000 jobs were taken away during CPI (M) rule in the state. Have those jobs been reinstated by the BJP after coming to power there?" she questioned.

Following the court order, the West Bengal government announced plans to pay April salaries to 25,753 affected teachers and non-teaching staff in state government-sponsored and aided schools. The government has also moved the Supreme Court challenging the order and is considering paying salaries to the affected staff until a verdict is reached.