Leftist student groups demand immediate dialogue with university authorities following campus incident
Kolkata, March 7: Leftist student groups at Jadavpur University (JU) have warned of a complete shutdown of the university's administrative operations from 2 pm on March 10 if the management fails to promptly engage in discussions to resolve the ongoing standoff stemming from an incident on March 1.
Two students were injured on March 1 when vehicles, including that of West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu, grazed past protestors forming a human chain during a demonstration on the JU campus.
Students Intensify Protest, Set Deadline
Students affiliated with leftist organizations—including the Students Federation of India (SFI, CPI(M)'s student wing), All India Democratic Students' Association (AIDSO, SUCI Communist), Revolutionary Students' Front (RSF, Naxalite), and All India Students' Association (AISA, Naxalite)—have intensified their protest, launching an indefinite sit-in in front of the university's administrative building.
Russel Pervez, the SFI unit leader at JU, clearly outlined their stance, stating, "If no one from the JU administration sits for talks with the agitating students after 2 pm on March 10, we will effect a total shutdown of the administrative building for an indefinite period."
Students Outline Their Key Demands
The protesting students are demanding immediate steps to restore confidence, emphasizing that only proactive action from the university administration can resolve the crisis.
Their core demands include:
- Immediate withdrawal of what they term "false, fabricated cases" filed by police against student protesters involved in the March 1 incident.
- The university administration becoming a party to the FIR lodged against Education Minister Bratya Basu and his driver, accused of attempting to forcibly drive through a student human chain.
- Compensation and medical expense coverage for the two injured students.
- Expedited scheduling and conducting of student union elections.
Expressing frustration over the lack of communication, Pervez remarked, "We have not been able to establish any communication with the university authorities since the incident. If the officiating VC is unwell, we want other institutional heads to immediately sit for talks with us. All student fronts—except TMC's TMCP and RSS's ABVP—remain united."
Solidarity Rally Garners Broader Support
The students' protest received widespread support from civil society activists and rights groups such as APDR and the Abhaya Manch platform activists, known for advocating justice for victims at Kolkata's R G Kar hospital. Protestors marched from JU's administrative building to Gol Park, about 2 km away, chanting slogans like "We demand justice" and "JU will not bow to threats of right-wing, undemocratic forces."
Teachers' Association Urges Calm, Dialogue
The Jadavpur University Teachers' Association (JUTA) has appealed to protesting students to ensure that academic activities, including classes, exams, and research, remain unaffected.
JUTA's General Secretary, Parthapratim Roy, expressed hope for immediate dialogue between the students and university management, stating, "We appeal to the students to ensure academic activities—classes and semester exams—and research work are not affected in any way. We wish for immediate resumption of talks between the two sides."
However, Roy clarified that convening an executive council meeting without the presence of the Vice-Chancellor is not feasible under university statutes.
