WBCUPA calls rampage by Left-wing students on JU campus as 'lumpenism'

NEW DELHI: The West Bengal College and University Professors' Association (WBCUPA) has described as "lumpenism" the rampage by Left student activists on Jadavpur University campus where state Education Minister Bratya Basu was heckled by protestors. The TMC-leaning WBCUPA's associate secretary and state committee member Syed Tanveer Nasreen told PTI that the unruly elements in the garb of students belonging to Left outfits "deflated" the tyres of the minister's car when it arrived at the campus and went on a rampage inside the WBCUPA AGM venue on the campus on Saturday.

"They disrupted the peaceful atmosphere on the campus and barged into the venue of the meeting attended by college and university teachers coming from across the state. The way these protesting students behaved is nothing but lumpenism. Their conduct is so unlike real students," Nasreen said. Nasreen termed the conduct of the students as "unrightful and unlawful intervention in the democratic functioning of a teachers' body". Senior JU teacher Omprakash Mishra alleged that he was manhandled and heckled by some of the protestors.

Teachers demand action

The Jadavpur University Teachers' Association (JUTA), in a statement, alleged while everyone has the democratic right to organise a programme, "a section of outsiders belonging to the ruling party went on a rampage on the campus when the students were trying to air their legitimate demands for holding student union elections on time." "The vehicle of the minister ran over the foot of our first-year student Ramanuj, injuring him seriously. We call upon the university authorities to take positive and effective steps in this regard very soon," JUTA general secretary Partha Pratim Roy said.

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The All Bengal University Teachers' Association (ABUTA) said, "While the lawlessness on the campus was unexpected and any organisation has the democratic right to hold its programme, we condemn the way a minister's car crushes the foot of a student and leaves the campus. We demand strong and prompt action by the VC in this matter and demand proper treatment of the student." Members of CPI(M)'s student wing SFI and Naxalite AISA on Saturday gheraoed Basu and damaged the windscreen of his vehicle on the Jadavpur University campus here to press for their demands for declaring students union election dates in the state at the earliest.

Minister injured in clash

Basu, who went to the JU campus to attend the annual general meeting of WBCUPA, tried to speak to the agitating students while leaving the campus but was surrounded by around 100 students who damaged the windscreen of his car, showed him shoes and smashed the rearview mirror of his vehicle. His security personnel had a trying time to escort him to his vehicle. The minister was later taken to state-run SSKM Hospital where he complained of uneasiness and suffering gashes on his left hand.