Trinamool warns against mixing politics with profession

Kolkata, April 27 (IANS) The Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal government Friday warned the employees of institutions providing essential services against indulging in politics at the cost of their work.

"There is need to break political hegemony in spheres like educational institutions, hospitals etc., which provide essential services. If doctors, teachers, firemen all indulge in politics, then who will provide these essential services?" state Public Health Engineering Minister Subrata Mukherjee said.

"Of course, people can have political consciousness and views, but mixing them with their profession cannot and will not be tolerated. Time has come to oppose those who come to office with political posters," Mukherjee said.

His comments come in the wake of the party's student wing Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) president Shankudeb Panda's stern warning to teachers supporting the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).

"Teachers should do their duty instead of indulging in party and politics. We will take care of those who will indulge in the politics of the Communist Party of India-Marxist," Panda said.

He was addressing a rally to protest an allegation by Debjani Dey, a woman professor of the Bhangar College, that she sustained an injury on the chin when former Trinamool legislator Arabul Islam, president of the college governing body, abused her and then threw the jug full of water at her.

Mukherjee denied any assault on Dey and said there was only a heated debate between the two.

"There has been no assault on her but just a heated debate. If there was assault, why did she not go to police? She neither went to a doctor even," said Mukherjee.

The minister also accused the media of indulging in politics. "These days, people instead of going to the police are going to the media with their grievances. Media should refrain from taking any political stand."