Tensions over Vikas Bhavan blockade, CM's strong message in favor of humanity

The recent events at the state education building Vikas Bhavan have created a major stir in the political atmosphere of West Bengal. A section of the dismissed employees, who had launched a protest after the jobs of many teachers recruited through the School Service Commission were cancelled, sat in protest at the main gate of Vikas Bhavan that day. Gradually, the protest turned into a heated situation. More than 3,000 government employees, many of whom were women, some of whom were even pregnant, were trapped due to the encirclement of the aggrieved employees. The blockade, which lasted for more than eight hours, practically brought the entire administrative building to a standstill.

Four days after this incident, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while addressing reporters at the Kolkata airport before leaving for a tour of North Bengal, said that she does not oppose any movement, but the limits of humanity should not be violated in any way. In her words, she has sympathy for those who are protesting.  However, no one has the right to detain or harm anyone else. He said that a pregnant woman could not leave the building despite repeated requests. A Group-D employee who was working as a contractual employee also repeatedly asked to let her go, but was finally forced to jump from the first floor due to the obstruction. He suffered serious injuries to his leg. Regarding this incident, the Chief Minister said, “We are human beings, humanity should be our primary consciousness. There should be a limit to the movement. If I block the path of others while protesting, it is wrong. Just as if I cannot stop anyone, no one can stop me.”

Behind Mamata’s message, a big question is swirling in the political background of the state. On April 3, the Supreme Court cancelled the jobs of 25,753 school education workers in the state in a verdict. Since this verdict, the dismissed workers have taken to the streets to protest. They claim that they are victims of this situation not through their own fault, but due to administrative negligence. The state government and the School Service Commission have already filed a review petition in the Supreme Court against this verdict.  According to sources in the education department, the review hearing may be held at the end of May. The Chief Minister also said, “Don’t protest, fight through legal means. The government is completely by your side. We are trying our best to get your jobs back. But we are bound to obey the court order. If the review petition is accepted, that is great. But if not, then I cannot disobey the court order on my own will.”

The Chief Minister also hinted that there is a political motive behind this movement. She questioned why a political party filed a case in the court? Mamata was clearly targeting CPM Rajya Sabha MP and lawyer Vikas Ranjan Bhattacharya, who has filed several cases against SSC corruption. The Chief Minister’s question was, “Do those who are protesting on the streets today know who filed this case? Which political party muddied the waters by filing this case?”

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, in its subsequent order of April 3, has said that the new recruitment process must be completed by December 31.  Accordingly, the SSC has started the process of publishing new recruitment notices for teachers and non-teaching staff by May 29. An official of the education department said that the affidavit has to be submitted to the court by May 31, so the recruitment notice will have to be issued before that.

In this context, Trinamool All India General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee also gave an important message in the context of the movement. He said that in a democratic country, everyone has the right to protest, but that protest should not turn into violence. In his words, “I have seen some videos where it is seen that gates have been broken. When a movement turns violent, its essence is lost.”

The state government, however, has still shown a sympathetic attitude towards the workers who have lost their jobs. In the case of Group-C and Group-D workers, the state government has decided to give ‘allowance’ to those whose salaries have been stopped. However, the Chief Minister has made it clear that this is only temporary help. It is possible to get back the old job only if the legal battle is won.

 This entire situation has put the government in the state to a tough test of administrative and political responsibility. On the one hand, the future of thousands of families has become uncertain, on the other hand, maintaining a balance between order and humanity has also become a big challenge. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her administration are currently trying to find a solution to this crisis through legal means. However, the entire state is currently waiting for the verdict of the Supreme Court on the review petition.