West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Arambagh, October 12: BJP MLA from Pursurah, Biman Ghosh, has made serious allegations that college students from remote areas of the Arambagh subdivision are being offered $100 or more per day to participate in anti-government protests and specific agitation programmes. Ghosh claimed that students were being targeted through financial inducements and alleged that a controversial organisation known as the “CJP” was attempting to recruit young people for activities he described as anti-national and disruptive. To support his allegations, the legislator presented screenshots of WhatsApp conversations to the media, although the authenticity and context of the messages have yet to be independently verified.

Ghosh, a college student from the Pursurah Assembly constituency recently approached him and brought the matter to his attention. The student reportedly shared information about messages allegedly circulated by the organisation and the financial incentives being offered to encourage participation in protests. Ghosh said the identity of the student was being withheld to protect their privacy and personal safety.

The BJP legislator claimed that the WhatsApp conversations pointed to an alleged attempt to attract students by promising substantial payments. He expressed concern that young people from economically disadvantaged or remote areas could be vulnerable to such offers. According to him, the alleged recruitment effort was designed to persuade unsuspecting students to join protests that he characterised as potentially disruptive.

Ghosh further alleged that the organisation’s activities were intended to disturb internal peace and create instability. He described the matter as serious and called for scrutiny of the messages and the people allegedly involved in the recruitment effort. However, the claims about the organisation’s objectives and the nature of the proposed protests remain allegations made by the BJP MLA and have not been independently established.

The legislator also alleged that sections of the Trinamool Congress, Congress and CPI(M) were providing political support to the activities in question. He suggested that the alleged mobilisation effort might have wider political connections. However, no independently verified evidence establishing the alleged involvement of these parties or their members was presented in the information available. The political allegations therefore remain unsubstantiated at this stage.

Expressing concern over the matter, Ghosh said he was preparing to forward the information and digital material in his possession to senior authorities, including the Chief Minister’s Office. He indicated that the documents and screenshots would be submitted for further examination. Such a submission could allow the relevant authorities to assess the allegations and determine whether a formal inquiry is warranted.

It remains unclear whether a specific written complaint has been lodged with the police in connection with the matter. There has also been no independent confirmation of the authenticity of the WhatsApp screenshots, the identity and activities of the organisation referred to as CJP, or whether any students actually received or accepted the alleged offers of payment.

The claims have raised questions about the use of financial inducements to mobilise students for political demonstrations. However, establishing the facts would require verification of the digital material, clarification from the organisation concerned and an examination of any available evidence by the relevant authorities.

For now, the allegations remain based on the claims made by the Pursurah MLA and the screenshots he presented to the media. Whether the alleged offer of $100 or more per day was part of a coordinated recruitment effort, and whether any political organisation was involved, will depend on further verification and investigation.

The issue has drawn attention in the Arambagh subdivision, where the allegations have introduced a new political controversy. The next developments are likely to depend on whether the material is formally submitted to the authorities and whether an official investigation is initiated to establish the authenticity of the messages and the claims surrounding them.