Kolkata, March 2: The West Bengal College and University Professors' Association (WBCUPA) has strongly condemned the violent protests by Left-affiliated student activists at Jadavpur University, where state Education Minister Bratya Basu was heckled, and his vehicle vandalized.
Describing the incident as "lumpenism," WBCUPA associate secretary Syed Tanveer Nasreen accused student protesters of "deflating the minister’s car tyres" and creating chaos at the association's annual general meeting (AGM) held on campus on Saturday. Nasreen further criticized the agitators, stating, "They disrupted the peaceful atmosphere and barged into a meeting attended by college and university teachers from across the state. Their conduct is so unlike real students."
Escalation of Violence on Campus
Senior Jadavpur University (JU) professor Omprakash Mishra alleged that he was "manhandled and heckled" by some of the protesting students. Meanwhile, the Jadavpur University Teachers' Association (JUTA) issued a statement claiming that while democratic protests are legitimate, "a section of outsiders belonging to the ruling party" contributed to the campus unrest.JUTA general secretary Partha Pratim Roy further alleged that the minister’s vehicle injured a first-year student, Ramanuj, after running over his foot. "We call upon the university authorities to take swift and effective action regarding this serious matter," Roy stated.
Demands for Action Amid Political Tensions
The All Bengal University Teachers' Association (ABUTA) also condemned the incident but focused on the alleged injury caused by the minister’s vehicle. "While any organisation has the right to conduct its programme, we strongly oppose the way a minister’s car ran over a student’s foot and then left the campus. We demand immediate action from the Vice-Chancellor and proper medical treatment for the injured student," ABUTA said in a statement.Protesters Gherao Minister, Security Personnel Struggle
The chaos erupted when members of the CPI(M)'s student wing, the Students' Federation of India (SFI), and the radical Leftist student group, AISA, gheraoed Basu upon his arrival. The students, demanding the announcement of student union election dates, allegedly damaged the windscreen of the minister’s car, smashed its rearview mirror, and waved shoes at him in protest.Basu attempted to engage with the demonstrators but was met with hostility. His security personnel faced difficulties in escorting him safely to his vehicle. Following the incident, the minister was taken to the state-run SSKM Hospital after complaining of uneasiness and sustaining injuries on his left hand.
The violent confrontation has further escalated tensions between the state government and Left-affiliated student bodies, raising concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation on university campuses in West Bengal.
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