The West Bengal College and University Professors Association (WBCUPA) condemned the violent protests at Jadavpur University, where Education Minister Bratya Basu was heckled by left student activists demanding timely student union elections. WBCUPA’s Syed Tanveer Nasreen described the actions of the protesters, including deflating the minister’s car tires and disrupting an AGM, as “lumpenism.” Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association (JUTA) criticized the lawlessness and reported that a student was injured when the minister’s car ran over his foot. Strong reactions from JUTA and the All Bengal University Teachers’ Association called for effective university action and proper treatment for the injured student.
Kolkata:
The West Bengal College and University Professors Association (WBCUPA) referred to the violent outburst by left-wing student activists at the Jadavpur University campus on Saturday, where Education Minister Bratya Basu faced verbal harassment from protestors, as “lumpenism”.
Syed Tanveer Nasreen, associate secretary and state committee member of the TMC-aligned WBCUPA, informed PTI that unruly individuals posing as students from leftist groups “deflated” the minister’s car tyres upon his arrival and subsequently wreaked havoc within the venue of the WBCUPA AGM.
“They disrupted the serene environment of the campus and forcibly entered the meeting where college and university educators from across the state had gathered. The conduct displayed by these protesting students is purely lumpenism. Such behavior is not reflective of genuine students. It is genuinely surprising coming from students,” remarked Syed Tanveer Nasreen.
He characterized the students’ actions as “unjust and unlawful interference with the democratic processes of a teachers’ organization.” Senior Jadavpur University educator Omprakash Mishra alleged that he faced physical intimidation and verbal abuse from some protestors.
The Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association (JUTA) issued a statement affirming that while everyone possesses the democratic right to organize events, “a faction of outsiders affiliated with the ruling party unleashed chaos in the campus while the students were peacefully voicing their legitimate requests for timely student union elections.” “The minister’s vehicle ran over the foot of our first-year student Ramanuj, inflicting serious injuries. We urge the university authorities to take swift and effective action regarding this matter,” said Partha Pratim Roy, general secretary of JUTA.
The All Bengal University Teachers’ Association (ABUTA) also stated, “Although the unexpected lawlessness on campus is regrettable, any organization has the democratic right to conduct its programs. We condemn the incident of a minister’s car injuring a student and leaving the scene without addressing the issue. We demand immediate and decisive action from the Vice Chancellor, along with proper medical care for the student.” Members from the CPI(M) student wing, SFI, and Naxalite AISA surrounded Bratya Basu and damaged the windscreen of his vehicle on the Jadavpur University campus while pressing for the announcement of student union election dates in the state as soon as possible.
Bratya Basu, who had gone to the JU campus for the WBCUPA annual general meeting, attempted to engage with the protesting students while departing but was encircled by approximately 100 students who damaged his car’s windscreen, displayed shoes toward him, and shattered the rearview mirror of his vehicle.
Security personnel struggled to assist him back to his car.
Later, the minister was taken to the state-run SSKM Hospital, where he reported feeling unwell and had sustained cuts on his left hand.
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