Facing the heat on the alleged seat-for-money scam in a West Bengal college, the ruling Trinamool Congress's student wing Tuesday accused a varsity vice chancellor and other education officials of "hatching a conspiracy" with the CPI-M to give a bad name to the party and the government.A delegation of the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad called on state Education Minister Partha Chatterjee during the day and demanded that a commission be constituted to probe the issue."We have told the education minister that the Kalyani University Vice Chancellor Rattan Lal Hangloo, and other officials in league with the CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) have hatched a conspiracy to defame the Trinamool and the state government and our union," said state TMCP president Shanku Dev Panda.
The alleged scam came to light after Hangloo - an internationally renowned historian - wrote to the West Bengal government that more students than the sanctioned strength were admitted to a college affiliated to the university, and sought a probe.He alleged that more students have been admitted to the Bhaktabala B.Ed. College in Nadia district in return for money."The rule is for 100 students, but they have taken more. This means somebody has taken money and given admissions. We have sent a report to the state government seeking a probe," Hangloo had said.Several students have alleged that the general secretary of the Trinamul Chhatra Parishad at the university has taken money, assuring them of admission to the college.
Confirming the allegations, the secretary of the college governing body, Amar Biswas said last week that Rs.60,000 to Rs.1.5 lakh has been paid by the students seeking admission to the college.The education minister, also the Trinamool secretary general, had then announced a party-level probe, and promised action if anyone was found guilty.But on Tuesday, Chatterjee directed Hangloo to ensure the students admitted in excess of the sanctioned strength of the college be allowed to sit for the examination.