Image Courtesy: PTI
Like School Service Commission (SSC) and College Service Commission (CSC) recruitment scam, this time, there are allegations of corruption in the recruitment of Kalyani AIIMS. But now, the names of BJP leaders and ministers are involved. The investigation was started by the Kalyani police station. This time the case has been handed over to the state intelligence agency CID.
It is learned that an FIR has been lodged in the name of BJP leaders and ministers for giving jobs by exerting influence. The list includes Union Minister of State for Education and Bankura BJP MP Subhas Sarkar, Ranaghat BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar, Chakdaha BJP MLA Bankim Ghosh and Bankura BJP MLA Niladrishekhar Dana, and four others.
Copy of FIR
On May 20, a man named Sariful Islam lodged a complaint with the Kalyani police station against the BJP leaders and ministers for 'recruitment corruption' in the Kalyani AIIMS. Nadia South BJP organising member Partha Chattopadhyay has written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleging the same, which caused a stir in state politics.
It is learned that on the basis of the allegations, an FIR was lodged against the BJP leaders under sections 420, 406, 120-B and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and various relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Kalyani police station has already started an investigation. Now CID will start an investigation into that case.
The AIIMS centre in Kalyani is run by the Central government. BJP workers themselves have alleged that the Union Minister and BJP leaders used their influence to get jobs for their relatives. Allegedly, someone's daughter, someone's daughter-in-law, got a job at AIIMS. And that job has been given not on the basis of merit but on the basis of influence.
BJP's Bangaon organising district president Partha Chattopadhyay complained, “Those who got jobs in this way (read-influenced) include Bankura BJP MLA Niladrishekhar Dana's daughter, daughter-in-law of Bankim Ghosh of Chakdaha in Nadia.”
However, BJP state president Sukanta Majumder termed the incident as a counter-move by the TMC. He claimed, “Political malpractice is going on to divert attention from SSC recruitment corruption. This FIR has been made on behalf of the Trinamool.”
The same demand was made by Bankura BJP MLA Niladrishekhar Dana. He dismissed the allegations as “politically motivated”.
Accused MLA Bankim Ghosh said, “Those who are allegedly recruited do not do any government jobs in AIIMS. Contract jobs have been given to private companies under Kalyani AIIMS.”
Meanwhile, Ranaghat BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar claimed, “The police have taken up the case under the pressure of the TMC. The main reason is to suppress corruption in SSC-CSC.”
CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty has reacted sharply to the issue. He said, “Look, the way BJP is going, Trinamool is also going that way. Similarly, the BJP is following the same path as the Trinamool. As the Trinamool is happily doing corruption in West Bengal, especially in recruitment, do you expect anything else from the BJP? Complaints are coming in the same way in the case of recruitment in AIIMS. The legislators have arranged for their own people to enter. The crime is equal.”
The Left leader also referred to the issue of recruitment corruption in SSC and CSC and said, “What has happened in SSC in West Bengal is a record. But that does not mean that BJP leaders will happily appoint its people to AIIMS? No, it will not be accepted.”
According to CID sources, all those named in the FIR will be called for questioning in a few days.