“The Chief Minister has said that there should be a Laxman Rekha regarding our protest, but then our question is — should there not have been a Laxman Rekha on corruption?” asks Chinmoy Mondal, a prominent face of the teachers’ protests since the Supreme Court annulled over 25,000 school jobs on April 3.
Fourteen days have passed since teachers who have lost their jobs began protesting outside the Bikash Bhawan, braving the extreme heat and rain.
Around 15 teachers had been summoned by the Bidhannagar North Police station to appear before them on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday regarding the violence on last Thursday — but as of Tuesday, they have not appeared.
Chinmoy Mondol, a prominent face of the protests, told The Indian Express, “The police had summoned 15 protesting teachers but the summons were sent on WhatsApp. No FIR copy was given. Thus, our legal counsel visited the police station. We are taking legal advice and will proceed accordingly.”
According to Mondol, “If our demands are met, then certainly we would not sit on the streets… Because of some people’s corrupt activities, we are suffering. Should there not have been a Laxman Rekha then?”
Another protestor said, “TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee said the protest should not be violent, that gates should not have been broken. They only saw one gate being broken. We were beaten mercilessly — some had eye injuries, some had broken legs, someone had a broken hand — they do not see that. We have lost our jobs — they do not see what our families are facing. Did any of them come and meet us, talk to us?”
Meanwhile, a section of “untainted” teachers outside Bikash Bhavan have distanced themselves from the agitation under the banner of Jogya Shikshak Shikshika Adhikar Mancha (JSSAM) and have expressed trust in the state government. The West Bengal Untainted Teachers Association (WBUTA) stated that nearly 2,500 to 3,000 teachers are willing to cooperate with the state.
Speaking to The Indian Express, WBUTA president Mrinmoy Mondal confirmed the split, saying: “We had differences with JSSAM and chose to leave. We trust the government’s efforts.”
On Monday, state Education Minister Bratya Basu alleged that his office received no formal demands or communication from the protesters. “Officials from my secretariat reached out repeatedly, asking if they had a memorandum or any written demands. There was no response. They had earlier met me several times, and I thought they were satisfied. Many had even rejoined school. When the protest suddenly resumed without communication, we were left puzzled,” he said.
He further said, “The protesters are demanding reinstatement without taking the court-mandated re-examination. The government cannot defy Supreme Court orders. How can the government commit contempt of court?”