Amid high drama, Union Minister Babul Supriyo finally left Jadavpur University along with Governor Jagdeep Dhankar on Thursday, 19 September, hours after the former was heckled by a section of students of the university during his visit to the campus to attend an event organised by the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
The agitating students had also demonstrated before the governor when he was trying to leave the campus with the Union minister.
Dhankhar and Babul Supriyo finally left the campus late in the evening hours after university teachers stepped in and persuaded the agitating students to lift their blockade, a spokesperson of Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association (JUTA) said.
During the agitation, JU Vice-Chancellor Suranjan Das fell sick and was rushed to a nearby hospital.
“Jadavpur University VC Suranjan Das and Pro VC PK Ghosh have been admitted to AMRI Hospitals, Dhakuria, at around 6:40 pm on 19 September. Both of (them) have been admitted with complaints of headache, vertigo, palpitation and nausea. Both of them suffered accelerated hypertension or a sudden onset of hypertension.”Hospital Press Release
Union Minister Babul Supriyo heckled by a section of students of Jadavpur University.
(Photo: IANS)
‘Pulled My Hair’
Supriyo was initially stopped from entering the campus for around one-and-half hours by members of two Left-leaning organisations – Arts Faculty Students' Union (AFSU) and Students Federation of India (SFI) – who raised slogans of 'Babul Supriyo Go Back', reported PTI.
Students showed black flags and purportedly pushed and shoved Supriyo. The minister was held up on the campus, as protesting students blocked the way to his car.
“I did not come here to do politics. But I am saddened by the behaviour of some of the students of the university, the way they have heckled me. They pulled me by my hair and pushed me,” Supriyo, who attended the seminar amid heavy security, told reporters visiting the campus.
Supriyo also claimed that the protesting students tried to "provoke him by openly calling themselves Naxals".
Speaking to The Quint, ABVP General Secretary at Jadavpur University Suman Chandra Das stated, "There were students from Left organisations as well as from the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad, who were part of the mob that heckled and manhandled Babul Supriyo and Agnimitra Paul. These Left and far-Left organisations talk about democracy, but they sure don't seem to respect it."
ABVP Supporters Vandalise Room
Meanwhile, stick-wielding supporters of ABVP vandalised a room of the Arts Faculty Students’ Union.
Shouting 'Jai Shree Ram' and 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', the ABVP supporters were seen setting fire to furniture, computers and ceiling fans of the room, and covering the signage outside it with black colour. They even painted ‘ABVP’ on the wall of the room and burnt tyres before gate number four of JU.
‘Gherao of Babul Supriyo a Serious Matter’: Governor
The state governor Jagdeep Dhankar earlier told PTI that the "gherao" of Babul Supriyo was a very serious matter and had asked the state chief secretary to take immediate action with regard to it.
Chief secretary Malay De had assured the governor, who is the chancellor of the university, that the city police commissioner was being directed to look into it immediately.
Such was the situation that the Vice Chancellor Suranjan Das also had to intervene to prevent any untoward incident.
The vice chancellor had tried to reason with the students and requested Supriyo to come to his chamber. However, the verbal duel between Supriyo and students continued.
“It was unfortunate. I will send a report on the incident to the governor, who is also the chancellor of the university,”Vice Chancellor Suranjan Das, as quoted by PTI
‘Fascist Forces Won’t Be Allowed’
AFSU leader Debraj Debnath, one of the students who participated in the protest, had asserted that "fascist forces" would not be allowed on the campus.
"We will not let the BJP, the RSS and the ABVP to spread their ideology in a liberal institute like JU," he was quoted by PTI as saying.
‘TMC Govt and Police Allowed This to Happen’
Reacting to the incident, BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya said the incident is ample evidence of worsening law and order situation in Bengal.
“In a state where a Union Minister and Governor is not safe, you can very well understand the condition of common people. The TMC government and the police allowed this to happen.”Kailash Vijayvargiya
(With inputs from PTI and IANS.)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)