CPI(M)-affiliated Students Federation of India (SFI) Sunday demanded the arrest of Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu for allegedly injuring students inside the Jadavpur University (JU) campus in Kolkata on Saturday.
An SFI-led protest demanding student union polls was held in JU on Saturday when Basu was visiting the premier campus. The protesters have alleged that some people got injured as the minister’s vehicle drove through a crowd of agitating students.
Addressing a press meet on Sunday, SFI Bengal President Debanjan Deb said, “Yesterday (Saturday), the education minister entered Jadavpur University to hold a meeting of TMC-affiliated professors but now we realise that he had actually come to create a problem. What were TMC goons from Madhyamgram and Calcutta University doing in Jadavpur University yesterday? Calcutta University’s Abhirup Chakraborty, who is also a TMC leader, cannot even enter his own campus due to a high court order, but he was in JU yesterday. Those who run ‘threat syndicate’ and ‘corruption syndicate’ – what were they doing here?”
Deb alleged that the education minister intentionally crushed students under his car. “Just because in JU they (TMC) cannot run the crime syndicate like they are running in other colleges and universities, so they did this. Is the demand for having student elections illegal? The SFI and other students are united on this issue, so the TMC tried to crush the students… Bratya Basu is a criminal, and if he roams the streets, then people will be unsafe. Such criminals should be arrested.”
Questioning ‘police inaction’ against Basu, Deb said, “Why did the police not take suo motu cognisance in the case. As a minister, can Bratya Basu do anything? We have called for protests in all districts demanding the arrest of Basu. He has no right to continue as education minister… We will protest in all universities starting tomorrow.”
Deb alleged that the TMC was conspiring to break the ‘unity’ of JU, and added that TMC supporters themselves damaged the minister’s car. “There is a criminal conspiracy going on with orders from Nabanna (state secretariat). Aroop Biswas (Youth Minister) is saying they will take over JU, this makes it clear that the motive of Bratya Basu is to take control of JU… FIRs, arrests will not stop us,” said Deb.
Meanwhile, Subhodip Bandhopadhyay, SFI state committee member who was present in JU on Saturday when the entire incident unfolded, said, “Weeks ago when we came to know that Education Minister Bratya Basu will visit Jadavpur University, we had asked that a meeting be arranged… some of us had gone to meet Basu regarding the demand for student election. When we came out, we saw that TMC goons were attacking our fellow students. Over 2,000 people from TMC entered campus for the program, whereas there were only 100-150 students.
“We protested when Basu got into the car, refusing to speak with us. The students were standing in front of the car and no one jumped on the car. We surrounded the car, but the car started moving, and some students got up on the bonnet to save themselves. Being a minister, how can he order the driver to start the car when someone is standing in front of the vehicle?”
Bandhopadhai further said, “Our campus has CCTVs, let them see the footage and it will be clear who engaged in vandalism. The TMC is planning to destroy the education system. JU vice-chancellor is saying that the University should be closed down, he is probably here to please the Mamata government… Education minister told us that he wanted to have student elections, but until he gets a green signal from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, nothing can be done.”
Later in the day, SFI and All India Democratic Students Organisation held a protest rally near JU condemning the conduct of the education minister.