West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu on Wednesday questioned why a group of people who lost their jobs after the Supreme Court upheld the invalidation of more than 25,000 teaching and non-teaching appointments over irregularities in the recruitment process protested outside the district inspector’s office in Kolkata’s Kasba when “we had said we would try to find solutions”.

“Why did the job losers go to the DI office? They went to protest. We had said that we would try to find solutions on how to return the jobs to genuine candidates. They were supposed to come and meet us with their demands and find solutions this week. Then, why the protest and scuffle?” Basu questioned, reiterating that the government would protect genuine candidates.

A Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar recently upheld a Calcutta High Court verdict annulling the appointment of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff and ordered the Trinamool Congress government in the state to initiate a fresh selection process.

On Wednesday, those who lost their jobs held rallies and protested at several locations, including outside the offices of district school inspectors in several areas. At Kasba, the police lathi-charged the protesters.

Meanwhile, former Calcutta High Court judge and BJP MP Abhijit Gangopadhyay cancelled his plan to visit Basu, saying that he condemned how the state government was dealing with those who lost their jobs.

“It was he who wanted to come. He wanted to give the letter to the chief minister via me, seeking justice for those who lost their jobs. But he backed out. I was waiting for him,” Basu said. “He did not come here, but he went to the SSC office. He could have boycotted that, too. We are consulting lawyers and will move forward accordingly. They (the protesters) need to realise who is with them,” Basu added.