CPM, Cong stage walkout from Bengal Assembly

Kolkata: The opposition Congress and the Left Front legislature party on Monday staged a walkout from the West Bengal Assembly, after a request to admit an adjournment motion over the issue of extortion money for college admissions was turned down.

As the speaker rejected the petition, MLAs of both the parties came down to the well and shouted slogans against the ruling Trinamul Congress government, and boycotted the House for the day.

“The state government is trying to evade the issue and the leaders of the ruling party themselves are involved in the scam. The chief minister and the education minister should come out with a statement,” senior CPI(M) MLA Tanmay Bhattacharya said.

Congress MLA Manoj Bhattacharya said the state government is trying to shield the culprits.

Both the police and the state education department have received complaints of irregularities, as several students and guardians alleged that money was demanded from them in lieu of admission in colleges.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had recently said that fees for admissions to colleges will have to be deposited though banks from next year, and that the merit list will be the only criteria for admissions. The Kolkata police had posted a message on its Facebook page, urging students to inform the police if someone demands money for admission to colleges.