Scams in West Bengal have harmed youth, says Modi
Targeting the Trinamool Congress on the issue corruption and scams, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the youth of West Bengal are paying a price for the “cut-and-commission” culture of the State’s ruling party.
At an election rally in Malda, Mr. Modi said, “About 26,000 people lost their livelihoods due to the massive recruitment scam. Those who took loans and gave them to the Trinamool Congress [to get jobs] are on the roads now.”
The remarks came against the backdrop of the Calcutta High Court order directing the termination of jobs for about 25,000 teaching and non-teaching sta of State-run schools on allegations of corruption and unfair methods in the recruitment process.
Speaking at the rally, the Prime Minister referred to various scams, including the Sharada chit fund scam, the Rose Valley chit fund scam, and the coal smuggling scandal. “Under Trinamool rule, only one thing exists — scams totalling thousands of crores,” Mr. Modi added.
Mamata’s counter
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who also addressed election rallies during the day, targeted the BJP by terming the party a “jobeater”.
She said the people of West Bengal would not forgive BJP leaders for “conspiring to snatch” the livelihood of nearly 25,000 employees.
“You have heard about man-eater tigers, but have you heard about the jobeater BJP? Did you see the glee on the face of the leaders of the BJP, the CPI(M) and the Congress after so many people were rendered jobless by the court?” Ms. Banerjee said at a rally held in Ghatal.