Later, Bose said, “Everyone has the right to protest. They have to choose which way they want to.”

The Governor is also the chancellor of the University of Calcutta.

As soon as he arrived at the main campus to distribute certificates to new PhD holders, TMCP members displayed black flags and raised “go back” slogans.

They alleged that the Governor has “illegally” appointed a vice-chancellor to the varsity, that the event was “misleadingly labelled”, and that barring some “close confidants” of the Governor-appointed acting vice-chancellor Santa Dutta, professors were “not allowed” entry to the certificate distribution venue.

TMCP State General Secretary Abhiroop Chakraborty called the ceremony “unconstitutional”.

“It is widely known that PhD degrees should be awarded only during a convocation ceremony, yet today’s event is misleadingly labeled as an ‘award’ ceremony… we strongly condemn it,” he said.

Later, vice-chancellor Dutta alleged that none of the protesters were students of the varsity.

“The protesters were there to vitiate the academic ambience of the university campus. But they will not be successful in their attempts to malign the image of this university,” she said.

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