Tempers flare at JU campus.
BJP MP and Union Minister Babul Supriyo was allegedly manhandled and heckled by a group of students of Jadavpur University during his visit to the campus to attend an event organised by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in Kolkata on Thursday.
The Governor of the state Jagdeep Dhankhar had to rush to rescue the union minister. He managed to entire the Governor’s car, but it was gheraoed by students who ‘demanded’ an apology from Supriyo.
The Governor was finally able to leave with Babu Supriyo while the West Bengal Police sent more police reinforcements. Meanwhile, the Joint CP Armed Police was on the spot.
What exactly happened?
Babul Supriyo was attending an event organised by RSS’ student body ABVP when hundreds of students carrying AISA and SFI flags, telling the BJP leader he wasn’t ‘welcome on campus’.
Supriyo’s shirt was torn in the ensuing melee and his glasses were knocked astray. The violence was condemned by SFI General Secretary Mayuk Vishwas who said it was carried out by anti-democratic forces.
Meanwhile, Supriyo told the heckling students that they ought to learn from veteran Communist leader Buddhadev Bhattacharya.
Meanwhile, protesters claimed Babul Supriyo’s security had beaten a girl, to which Supriyo asked them to present the concerned student. BJP leader Agnimitra Paul also said she was heckled and her saree was pulled.
Reacting to the incident, BJP leader Rahul Sinha says, "Jadavpur University has become a place for goons and anti-democratic. Every time, someone tries to organize an event on the campus, they are either heckled or stopped by the university students.
The incident was condemned by Tapas Roy of TMC and Sujan Chakravarty of CPI(M).
TMC reaction
Ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday expressed "shock" over Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar's visit to Jadavpur University to bring Union Minister Babul Supriyo who was allegedly heckled by a section of students and strongly opposed his comment calling the incident a "reflection of law and order situation".
In a statement, the TMC said that the Governor, the custodian of the Constitution in the State, visited the campus without informing the "elected government" to "so-called rescue" of the BJP leader".
"This is most unfortunate and shocking that our Governor, the custodian of the Constitution of the State, without informing the elected government went to the so-called rescue of the BJP leader from Jadavpur University," it said.
The party said the police were waiting outside the university but were unable to enter in the absence of any communication from the VC.
The TMC said: "Governor went there without taking the state government into confidence. On his way, he rang up the CM who requested him several times that the Governor being the constitutional head need not go at this moment. The CM requested him to give the government some time to peacefully solve the issue. But instead of taking the government into confidence, the Governor went there to help BJP."
The ruling party took exception to the Governor releasing a press statement in which he said the incident was "a very serious reflection on the law and order in the state".
It said that the "BJP and ABVP goons" resorted to vandalism in the university campus and said the Governor did not offer any comments on it.
"We strongly oppose his political views. Neither TMC nor police are involved in the incident. It is absolutely with BJP and Leftist union students versus BJP leader. So the question of law and order does not arise. The state police facilitated in taking the BJP leader and the Governor out of the troubled spot," it said.
Meanwhile, the SFI has called for a statewide protest over the incident.
1. West bengal Education Minister reacts
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Meanwhile, West Bengal’s Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said: “This is most unfortunate and shocking that our Governor, the custodian of the Constitution of the State, without informing the elected government went to the so-called rescue of the BJP leader from Jadavpur University.BJP leader Babul Supriyo went there to attend the BJP students wing program without informing the Govt even. Some unfortunate incident happened between BJP students wing and JU students. The state police was waiting outside the university, but were unable to enter in the absence of any communication from the VC.’
He added: “Hon’ble Governor went there without taking the State Government into confidence. On his way, he rang up the CM. CM requested him several times that the Governor being the constitutional head need not go at this moment. The CM requested him to give the government some time to peacefully solve the issue. But instead of taking the government into confidence, the Governor went there to help BJP. Before going there, he released two press statements that I quote “this is a very serious reflection on the law and order in the State”.”
He added: “He of course did not offer any comment on the vandalism perpetrated by BJP and ABVP goons in the Jadavpur University campus today. We strongly oppose his political views. Neither TMCP nor police are involved in the incident. It is absolutely with BJP and Leftist union students versus BJP leader. So question of law and order does not arise. The state police facilitated in taking the BJP leader and the Governor out of the troubled spot. The vandalism perpetrated in Jadavpur University today by BJP goons is a stark reminder of what happened in the political rally in front of Calcutta University and vandalisation of the bust of Pandit Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar in Vidyasagar College before the Lok Sabha election. We do not have words to condemn such shocking acts of violence and trouble-mongering.”
2. Students protest his visit
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Earlier today, when Babul, accompanied with designer-turned-BJP leader Agnimitra Paul were entering the college campus, when they were attacked by a group of protesting students, who raised slogans against them, asking them to 'go back' while showing him flags of the Students Federation of India ( SFI) and the All India Students' Association (AISA). The protesting students shouted that the 'BJP leader was not welcome on the campus'.
The students, protesting Supriyo's visit to the campus, pushed and shoved him and one of them even pushed him to the ground even as his bodyguards and security personnel tried to throw a security ring around him.
3. Governor reaches JU
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Supriyo was later holed up inside the VC’s office. “You people are trying to provoke me, create a commotion. But you can`t drive me out. Till the time you calm down, I won`t go," Supriyo was heard telling the protestors.
The Governor of Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar took a dim view of the situation and reached the campus to take Supriyo out of there. Supriyo sat in Dhankhar’s car, but students of JU gheraoed the car.
4. Several cycles torched
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The Governor takes the incident very seriously as it involves unlawful detention of a Union Minister and this is a very serious reflection on the law and order of the State and on the conduct of the law enforcing agencies.”
Meanwhile, ABVP – RSS’ student body – supporters resorted to vandalism on campus and several cycles were torched.
The Governor also released a statement in which he took a very serious view and spoke to Chief Secretary, West Bengal who promised prompt action.
His office said: “The West Bengal Governor Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar spoke to the VC and indicated to him that it was improper for him not to have taken prompt steps in the matter, that can lead to unwholesome results. The Chief Secretary was sounded only after speaking with the VC."
