From Shahid Minar to Gandhi statue, then Y-Channel: Jobless stir shifts venue twice
Times of India | 13 April 2025
1234 Kolkata: Teachers, who lost their jobs after the Supreme Court order, said that they were happy with the discussions with the state but they wanted to keep up the pressure.
On Saturday, they shifted their sit-in demonstration twice — first to the Gandhi statue from Shahid Minar and again to the Y-Channel in the evening. "A different protest by candidates who are on the waiting list are schedule at Gandhi statue on Sunday. So, we shifted the site," said Chinmoy Mandal, a member of the delegation that met minister Bratya Basu on Friday.
"There is no denying that the govt also wants to save the jobs of eligible candidates in a legal way, and Friday's meeting was productive. They accepted our demand of publishing mirror images and a detailed list of eligible and ineligible candidates based on the legal advice they receive. But we want to keep the pressure on until our demands are fulfilled and we get back our jobs with respect," said Mandal.
However, not everyone shared his optimism. Some felt that publishing mirror images of 22 lakh OMR sheets may not help in regaining their jobs.
Mrinmoy Das, a jobless teacher from a Siliguri school, felt happy that a discussion took place where they could put forward their demands. "But we can only be hopeful and assured when our demands are fulfilled. So, we decided to continue the protest to pressurise the govt, and at the same time, we are open to talks with the CM and education minister on this issue," Das added.
Another jobless teacher from a school in Sashan, Moumita Ghosh, said, "I am neither trusting any verbal assurances nor am I hopeful that publishing mirror images of OMR sheets will solve our problem. As an eligible candidate, my only demand is to get back my job." Rupa Banerjee, a jobless teacher from a Bhangar school, said, "We are still clueless as I do not think that providing mirror images of OMR sheets will be helpful."