Multiple bodies associated with the Trinamool Congress’s education cell, including the West Bengal College and University Professors' Association (WBCUPA), took out a rally in Kolkata on Tuesday to protest the heckling of Bratya Basu, the education minister of West Bengal, in Jadavpur University (JU) last week.
Basu was there to attend the annual general meeting of WBCUPA on Saturday when a group of ultra-left students demanding student body elections heckled him and vandalised his car. The incident also led to the injury of two students. The minister, reportedly, reached out to the family of one of the injured students, named Indranuj Roy, and expressed regret.
Howrah, West Bengal: On Jadavpur University incident, Student's Federation of India State Secretary Debanjan Dey says, "...Protests by the SFI took place throughout the day in various provinces and campuses. Following yesterday's student strike at the university, Trinamool… pic.twitter.com/PwjkaPWmjm
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Holding posters of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the protesters on Tuesday raised slogans against the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), accusing the CPI(M)’s student body of leading the attack against Basu and creating an unsafe environment for professors and teachers in JU.
Along with WBCUPA, the West Bengal Trinamool Primary Teachers' Association (WBTA), the West Bengal Trinamool Secondary Teachers' Association (WBTSTA), the Trinamool Shiksha Bandhu Samiti also took part in the rally from Jadavpur 8B bus stand to Jadavpur police station.
VIDEO | Kolkata: TMC workers stage protest over the alleged heckling of West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu at Jadavpur University.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 4, 2025
(Full video available on PTI Videos- https://t.co/dv5TRAShcC)#Kolkata pic.twitter.com/oHAuzO6bYD
Meanwhile, Bhaskar Gupta, the interim vice chancellor, on Tuesday proposed a judicial inquiry to probe Saturday’s incident. His proposal came during a meeting with several teacher associations of the university, including WBCUPA.
On the other hand, several ultra-left student organisations called for demonstrations on the university campus on both Tuesday and Wednesday. They demanded that classrooms and research laboratories remain closed. The protesters also put forth several demands following their general body meeting on Monday.
They have collectively decided that Vice Chancellor Bhaskar Gupta must come to the campus and speak with them within the next 24 hours, warning that on failing to do so they will escalate their protests. If necessary, they will stage a sit-in outside his office.
During Saturday’s incident, a group of students also allegedly assaulted the VC, which, reportedly, deteriorated his health. As a result, he has been advised to remain on complete bed rest for the next 10 days.
The protesters demanded that the university cover the medical expenses of injured students. Additionally, Gupta should work with the government to withdraw police complaints against certain students. They also insisted that authorities file charges, including attempted murder, against Basu for allegedly permitting reckless driving on campus.
Along with the issue of student union elections, filing of FIR over allegations of reckless driving on campus was also raised during the VC’s meeting with the teachers’ bodies. However, WBCUPA opposed this and instead called for an investigation into the fire incident at the Shiksha Bandhu office inside the campus.
Additionally, a request was made to the state government for extra security personnel. The discussion also emphasised taking all necessary measures to restore peace and normalcy on campus.
