Mamata blasts Left for text-book smear campaign

“For long,the CPM has been politicising education. This is a reflection of low politics of the CPM. Unable to counter us politically,they are using the administrative bodies to draw teachers towards them,” said Banerjee. With the Government money,criticizing the Opposition is the only work left with the government,she added.

On page 42 of the booklet,in a play “Mental Pressure and its Reactions”,the main character,Samirbabu,a school teacher,criticises the role of Mamata in driving away the Tatas from Singur. The booklet was officially released by School Education Minister Partho De along with other officials of the Board on January 9 at a programme at Vidyasagar Bhavan,Salt Lake. The book was then distributed among 40 teachers.

After the report was carried in The Indian Express on January 10,there has been severe criticism various teachers’ organisations and political factions following which the Board retreated. “We are sorry and sad for what has happened. The writer in charge of publishing the book has committed it mistake. We did not want to attack any one personally. The portion has been deleted from the revised version,” said Partha Roy,the secretary of the Board.

Mamata,however,is far from pacified. Referring to Baruipur incident where a child died of alleged malnutrition,she said,“I have been telling the government for long that there are hundreds in Bengal who are dying of malnutrition. The developmental schemes of the Centre are not being properly implemented by the state.”

Meanwhile,the Trinamool chief once again said she would not support the SUCI strike on January 22. With a global economic crisis looming large,a bandh will affect a normal labour day,she said.