Clashes Erupt as ABVP Rallies Against Recruitment Scam in West Bengal
Kolkata, April 4: A protest march organized by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was halted by police on Thursday as demonstrators attempted to reach Bikash Bhawan, the headquarters of the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC), from Karunamoyee in Salt Lake.The march was staged in response to alleged corruption in the 2016 SSC recruitment process, a day after the Supreme Court upheld the Calcutta High Court’s decision to cancel nearly 26,000 appointments of teaching and non-teaching staff made through the process.
Tensions Flare Between Protesters and Police
As the protestors approached the SSC office, a heavy police deployment blocked their path. Defying the barricades, ABVP supporters squatted on the road, shouting slogans against the state government and alleged recruitment irregularities. In response, police forcibly dispersed the demonstrators.Protesters even tried to divert their route to evade security forces, but the police had already cordoned off all access roads leading to Bikash Bhawan, effectively preventing their advance.
BJP Leaders Confront Authorities
The standoff escalated as BJP leaders and activists engaged in heated arguments with the police, condemning the crackdown on students. A BJP student leader voiced anger during the protest, declaring,Allegations Against TMC
BJP supporters alleged that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) enabled large-scale corruption in the recruitment of teachers and Group C and D staff under the SSC process. They claimed the scam has compromised the futures of thousands of deserving candidates, now left in limbo due to the cancelled appointments.The protest underscores growing political tensions in West Bengal, especially as the state grapples with the fallout of the recruitment scandal that continues to make headlines.
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