The Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, on Tuesday hit out at the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government for neglecting the Adivasi community in the state, alleging that they were being deprived of their rights and reservations in education and jobs.
Adhikari claimed that the Mamata Banerjee government had removed permanent posts in government jobs and brought in contractual employment. “In Bengal, CM has removed permanent jobs and brought in temporary jobs. CM has also taken away reservations. The STs, SCs, OBCs and the physically challenged have to be given reservation as per central guidelines, but this is being ignored by the present government,” he said.
“Adivasis protect water and land. They play a crucial role, and we respect them. Our PM always tries to bring them forward…our President is also a tribal,” Adhikari said, adding that this was opposed by the TMC.
The BJP leader referred to a recruitment drive by the food department for contractual employees with a monthly pay of Rs 15,000 and alleged that the government was ignoring reservations, bypassing the 6 per cent quota for Adivasis and 22 per cent for Scheduled Castes. “I will write to the governor and initiate legal action along with Adivasi and Scheduled Caste representatives,” he said.
Adhikari further said that in the past month, several incidents of atrocities on the Adivasi community had been reported. He cited two cases: of a TMC leader allegedly kicking an Adivasi teacher and football referee during a football match in Medinipur and the murder of Doctor Soren in Debra, who was allegedly assaulted by the police in custody. In both cases, he said, FIRs were filed, but justice was not served.
“We are protesting locally. The fight is on. They are trying to oppress them, and the BJP is fighting and standing beside them. There are fake SC and fake ST certificates…The original OBCs are being deprived,” Adhikari said.
CID to probe Khejuri murders: ‘Not happy’
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday handed over the investigation into the deaths of two BJP workers—Sudhir Chandra Paik, 65, and Sujit Das, 23—in Khejuri in July to the CID. “ADG CID Bhabani Bhaban, West Bengal, is directed to engage an officer in the rank of DIG CID, WB, who will form a SIT from the homicide section to investigate the matter. The postmortem reports are to be handed over to the investigating authorities. Progress report to be submitted before the court. Next hearing is on September 25,”Justice Tirthankar Ghosh stated in his order.
Adhikari said that he was not happy with the court’s decision and would urge the victims’ families to challenge the order and move a division bench. “No one believes the police in this state. The entire system has been polluted by the chief minister. The police are involved,” Adhikari said.