In a fresh standoff at the Jadavpur University campus in Kolkata on Saturday, members of CPI(M) students wing Students Federation of India (SFI) and left-backed All India Students Association (AISA) 'gheraoed' West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu while raising their voice seeking the students union election dates in the state.
The minister, who went to the JU campus to attend the annual general meeting of the West Bengal College and University Professors Association(WBCUPA) later said that he tried speaking to the agitating students, but was surrounded by over 100 of them who did not listen to him.
About The Incident
As per reports, the protest began even before the minister's arrival and the West Bengal College and University (WBCUPA) officials tried dispersing the agitating students. Later, the students allegedly blocked the minister's vehicle and deflated the car tires.
Basu was taken to state-run SSKM Hospital as he experienced uneasiness and sustained minor injuries to his left hand.
"I have undergone an x-ray test as I felt pain in my chest. However, doctors told me there was no serious injury. There were some external marks on the upper part of my body but these are not serious," he told reporters while leaving the hospital, as per PTI.
Condemning the protest by SFI students, TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said, "It was a planned attack on a minister by left ultra-left elements who only want to create chaos. What would have happened if the windshield and rearview mirror had come off and grievously injured the minister who was sitting on the front seat next to the driver? Our patience and tolerance should not be mistaken as weakness by those who are behind such attacks."
What Did The SFI Members Say?
Commenting on the incident, SFI leader Kaushiki Bhattacharya said the agitating students only wanted to have a discussion with the minister over conducting the students' union polls at the earliest.
"We did not resort to violence. It is the TMC outsiders who joined some of their sympathisers on the campus to attack our activists and use abusive language against us," she said.
She claimed that two left student activists were injured after the cars in Basu's convoy ran over their ankles and they had to be admitted to hospital in serious condition.
In response to the violence, security personnel were deployed to restore order.
What Did The Minister Say?
When asked about the alleged turmoil, Bratya Basu said, "I was ready to talk to the protesting students. Even the SFI handed over a memorandum to me, but when I was about to board the car again, over 100 protestors turned aggressive and surrounded me. I was ready to speak to five representatives even in the presence of the vice-chancellor, but they did not want constructive dialogue. They wanted chaos and lawlessness. They tried to attack my vehicle," the minister said.
The Trinamool leader also claimed that the protestors did not entirely belong to SFI but other ultra-left outfits active on the campus as well. "Ram and Bam (rightwing and left forces) have joined hands to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere on the campus. They manhandled one of our members," he said.
"Today those who had protested against saffronisation of the country, those who made tall claims about fighting for democracy, fighting against fascism, today joined hands with fascist forces to demonstrate against me and members of the teaching community just because we did not succumb to their pressure tactics, their intimidatory tactics," Basu said earlier.
