Kolkata, March 2 — A blood donation program organized at a state-run higher secondary school in South 24 Parganas district has sparked controversy, a day before the commencement of the Class 12 board exams in West Bengal. The event, held on the birthday of a local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, has drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar calling the incident "shameful."
The program took place at Fatehpur Srinath Institution, a designated exam center for the upcoming Higher Secondary (HS) exams. A poster at the venue wished TMC youth wing leader Jehangir Khan on his birthday and invited people to participate in the blood donation camp. Images shared by Majumdar on social media showed the venue adorned with decorative lights, gates, and pandals, sparking outrage.
Majumdar, also the BJP president for West Bengal, expressed his dismay in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Shameful! Under @MamataOfficial’s rule, education in Bengal has hit rock bottom!” The Union minister went on to accuse the state government of allowing schools to become party offices, with exam centers being transformed into “TMC clubhouses” at the expense of students' education.
The controversy intensified as Majumdar highlighted the timing of the event — on the eve of the crucial HS exams, with hundreds of students set to write their papers the following day. He further criticized the administration for remaining silent and allegedly complicit in the situation.
In his post, Majumdar stated, “On the eve of Higher Secondary exams, a TMC youth leader's birthday is being lavishly celebrated at a school named Fatepur Srinath Institution in South 24 Parganas district — an official exam center! Lights, gates, pandals — like a festival, while hundreds of students are set to appear for their crucial exams tomorrow!”
He directed pointed questions towards Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Education Minister Bratya Basu, asking, “Does @MamataOfficial or her Education Minister @basu_bratya have any answers? Or is ruining students' futures their only priority?”
Despite the controversy, a school official clarified that the blood donation camp was held in a part of the school compound that was not designated for exams. The event was scheduled to run for two hours, and organizers had been instructed to dismantle the pandal once the program concluded.
Jehangir Khan, the TMC youth leader, was unavailable for comment, and a TMC spokesperson chose not to respond until all facts were confirmed.
A representative from the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education reassured that their primary concern was the smooth conduct of the exams. The official stated, “We are only focused on ensuring that the HS exams are conducted without any disruption to the students.”
Students from five local schools are set to appear for their exams at the Fatehpur Srinath Institution center starting March 3.
This incident highlights the growing tensions between the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP over issues related to education and governance in West Bengal. The controversy is likely to fuel further debate in the run-up to the state’s future elections.
The program took place at Fatehpur Srinath Institution, a designated exam center for the upcoming Higher Secondary (HS) exams. A poster at the venue wished TMC youth wing leader Jehangir Khan on his birthday and invited people to participate in the blood donation camp. Images shared by Majumdar on social media showed the venue adorned with decorative lights, gates, and pandals, sparking outrage.
Majumdar, also the BJP president for West Bengal, expressed his dismay in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Shameful! Under @MamataOfficial’s rule, education in Bengal has hit rock bottom!” The Union minister went on to accuse the state government of allowing schools to become party offices, with exam centers being transformed into “TMC clubhouses” at the expense of students' education.
The controversy intensified as Majumdar highlighted the timing of the event — on the eve of the crucial HS exams, with hundreds of students set to write their papers the following day. He further criticized the administration for remaining silent and allegedly complicit in the situation.
In his post, Majumdar stated, “On the eve of Higher Secondary exams, a TMC youth leader's birthday is being lavishly celebrated at a school named Fatepur Srinath Institution in South 24 Parganas district — an official exam center! Lights, gates, pandals — like a festival, while hundreds of students are set to appear for their crucial exams tomorrow!”
He directed pointed questions towards Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Education Minister Bratya Basu, asking, “Does @MamataOfficial or her Education Minister @basu_bratya have any answers? Or is ruining students' futures their only priority?”
Despite the controversy, a school official clarified that the blood donation camp was held in a part of the school compound that was not designated for exams. The event was scheduled to run for two hours, and organizers had been instructed to dismantle the pandal once the program concluded.
Jehangir Khan, the TMC youth leader, was unavailable for comment, and a TMC spokesperson chose not to respond until all facts were confirmed.
A representative from the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education reassured that their primary concern was the smooth conduct of the exams. The official stated, “We are only focused on ensuring that the HS exams are conducted without any disruption to the students.”
Students from five local schools are set to appear for their exams at the Fatehpur Srinath Institution center starting March 3.
This incident highlights the growing tensions between the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP over issues related to education and governance in West Bengal. The controversy is likely to fuel further debate in the run-up to the state’s future elections.