25 Apr. 24: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, accusing him of dependence on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to retain his position. Speaking at an election rally in support of Durgapur-Bardhaman Lok Sabha candidate Kirti Azad, Banerjee condemned Singh’s assertion that the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is unstoppable, stating that Singh seemed to be subservient to Modi for political survival.
“You are surviving at the mercy of Modi. You are saluting Modi daily to save your chair. You or Nitin Gadkari could have been the PM today. There would have been no problem… at least there would have been a gentleman in the chair who knows minimum courtesy,” Banerjee remarked, referencing Singh’s recent comments made during an election rally in Murshidabad.
Banerjee also came heavily on the Calcutta High Court, describing it as a ‘tirtha kendra’ (pilgrimage site) for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), following the court’s decision on Monday to cancel the appointments of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff recruited through the State Level Selection Test (SLST) 2016 in West Bengal government-sponsored and aided schools.
Expressing frustration over the court’s ruling, Banerjee highlighted the impact on employment opportunities for the state’s youth, claiming that her government was unable to fill approximately 10 lakh vacant positions due to legal constraints imposed by such court decisions.
“The BJP has no other work but to move the High Court against the state government. They have taken away the jobs of school teachers. Where will these 26,000 youth go? Will schools in West Bengal be closed?” Banerjee questioned, emphasizing the repercussions of the court order on job prospects in the state.
Banerjee’s remarks reflect growing political tensions in West Bengal, particularly surrounding contentious issues like the CAA and judicial interference in state-level appointments. The statements come amidst heightened campaigning ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, underscoring the significance of regional concerns and their intersection with national political narratives.
