KolkataWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said corrective steps should be taken if “mistakes” have been made in the recruitment process but no one should be terminated from the services as they have to take care of the family. Banerjee’s remarks came after the Calcutta High Court terminated the services of thousands of people illegally appointed as teaching and non-teaching staff in state-sponsored and state-aided schools across West Bengal by rigging the recruitment process.
“If I have done any mistake, you can slap me and I will not mind. I have not done wrong to anyone knowingly. After coming to power, I did not take the jobs of CPI(M) workers, But why are you?” doing so? You don’t have the capacity to provide jobs, but you are taking away people’s livelihood,” she said, taking a dig at CPI(M) MP Bikash Ranjan
Bhattacharya, a lawyer fighting many such cases in the court. Urging the court to reconsider its decision to terminate the services, Banerjee said re-examination for such people may also be considered.
“I would ask you to reconsider. Yesterday also two people committed suicide in Jalpaiguri. If someone else has done something wrong, why should these people suffer? How to care? Give it to that person.” One chance Allow him to take another test if needed. We will prepare another setup as per the court order,” she said.
Banerjee was speaking on the issue while addressing the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Sri Aurobindo at the Alipore Judges Court campus, during which she looked emotional.
“Everyone is not a TMC cadre. A government servant can be a supporter of any political party. If any of them have done anything wrong, I will take action against them. I have no sympathy for them. But, we It has to be seen that those who have got jobs do not suffer,” he said.
The ED and CBI have arrested former education minister Partha Chatterjee along with several top education officials and senior TMC leaders as the two central agencies launched a probe into allegations of illegal appointments in state schools in exchange for crores of rupees.
Senior CPI(M) leader Bhattacharya said that instead of asking the court to reconsider its decision to terminate the services of the ineligible candidates, Banerjee should step down taking responsibility for the entire fiasco.
“During the Left Front government, appointments were made as per due process. They have no right to snatch any job,” he said. Meanwhile, the BJP alleged that Banerjee herself was involved in irregularities. Senior state BJP leader Rahul Sinha alleged, “The statement proves the Chief Minister’s involvement in irregularities. Now, she is trying to save her face.”