BJP stages protest holding 'Mamata Chor' posters in Assembly

BJP legislators, led by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, staged a protest inside the West Bengal Assembly on Monday demanding Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s resignation over the 2016 SSC recruitment scam. Adhikari wore a placard around his neck reading “Mamata Chor,” while MLA Shankar Ghosh and others shouted slogans like “Pishi chor, bhaipo chor,” and “Chor Mamata gaddi chharo.” The legislators beat drums and metal plates during the protest.

Speaking to journalists, Suvendu Adhikari alleged, “In the last Lok Sabha polls, tainted teachers and staff were deployed as polling personnel. In Diamond Harbour, these individuals helped Trinamool Congress loot votes. They won by a margin of 7 lakh votes. I filed an RTI seeking polling party details but received no reply. I will move court now.” He added, “This is an inhuman and barbaric government. Mamata Banerjee, her family, and her government’s corruption cannot be hidden behind sandbag tactics.”

The protest followed the Supreme Court’s verdict that cancelled the entire 2016 SSC panel, stating it was not possible to distinguish between eligible and ineligible candidates. As a result, 26,000 teachers and staff lost their jobs. According to BJP, around 2,500 ineligible candidates were protected, while thousands of meritorious candidates were dismissed. On the same day, Mamata Banerjee held a meeting with job losers at Netaji Indoor Stadium. BJP leaders said the state government has not initiated the segregation of eligible and ineligible candidates from the panel. Statewide protests and a Nabanna march have been announced by affected candidates.