Students Attack Bengal Minister Bratya Basu at Jadavpur University
The Jadavpur University campus in Kolkata witnessed a tense situation on Saturday when members of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) gheraoed West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu, demanding immediate holding of students’ union elections. The incident took a violent turn when the students damaged the windscreen of Basu’s car, forcing him to be rushed to a hospital as he felt uneasiness during the protest.
The SFI members, who were protesting against the delay in holding the students’ union elections, surrounded Basu’s car as he arrived at the university campus to attend a meeting. The students were demanding that the elections be held immediately, and were unhappy with the university administration’s decision to postpone them.
As the situation escalated, the students reportedly damaged the windscreen of Basu’s car, leading to a confrontation between the protesters and the minister’s security personnel. Basu, who was reportedly not injured in the incident, felt uneasiness and was taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
The SFI members, who were adamant that the elections be held immediately, refused to budge despite the presence of police personnel on the campus. The protesters claimed that the university administration was trying to suppress their voices and were not willing to hold the elections, which was a democratic right of the students.
The controversy surrounding the students’ union elections at Jadavpur University has been ongoing for several months, with the SFI and other student organizations demanding that the elections be held immediately. The university administration, however, has been delaying the elections, citing various reasons, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the need for a thorough review of the election process.
The incident has sparked a heated debate on social media, with many students and academics expressing their support for the SFI members who were protesting against the delay in holding the elections. Many have criticized the university administration for not taking the students’ concerns seriously and for trying to suppress their voices.
The SFI, which is one of the largest student organizations in the country, has a significant presence on the Jadavpur University campus. The organization has been at the forefront of many student movements in the past, including the movement against the introduction of the National Education Policy (NEP) in 2020.
The Jadavpur University incident is not the first time that the SFI has clashed with the West Bengal government. In 2019, SFI members had clashed with the police and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) activists during a protest against the government’s decision to increase the fees of private colleges in the state.
The incident has also raised questions about the security arrangements on the Jadavpur University campus. The university has a reputation for being a hub of student activism, and the presence of police personnel on the campus is not uncommon. However, the incident has highlighted the need for better security arrangements to ensure the safety of students and faculty members.
The West Bengal government has been facing criticism from various quarters for its handling of the students’ union elections at Jadavpur University. The government has been accused of trying to suppress the voices of students and of not taking their concerns seriously.
The government has also been criticized for its decision to appoint a committee to review the election process, which many see as an attempt to delay the elections further. The SFI and other student organizations have rejected the committee’s recommendations, demanding that the elections be held immediately.
In conclusion, the attack on West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu at Jadavpur University is a clear indication of the growing discontent among students in the state. The delay in holding the students’ union elections has been a major point of contention, and the SFI members’ decision to gherao Basu is a reflection of their frustration and disappointment.
The incident highlights the need for the West Bengal government to take the students’ concerns seriously and to hold the students’ union elections as soon as possible. The government must also ensure that the elections are free and fair, and that the voices of all students are heard.
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