Jadavpur crisis deepens: TMC to launch rally against students today

Kolkata, Sept 22: Kolkata is witnessing a massive student protest for last four days. After students from various colleges organised a mammoth rally in the city on Saturday against the authorities of Jadavpur University, which is the epicentre of the crisis the city is embroiled in, the Trinamool Congress is all set to launch a counter-rally.

Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamool Congress MP and nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Monday questioned whether the student protests in Jadavpur University were due to banning of drugs and liquor inside the campus. "Is this protest due to the banning of drugs, liquor and charas?" he said in a Facebook post.

The JU students have been demanding the resignation of the vice chancellor, the Pro VC and the registrar of the varsity in the wake of alleged police assault of students in the early hours of September 17. The VC has refused to step down.

West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi intervened to end the four-day old stalemate. Students from Presidency University, Calcutta University and other educational institutions joined the march in a show of solidarity. JU students have boycotted classes to press the demand for the VC's resignation. Those in the mass communication department boycotted their examination on September 18.

Reportedly, the TMC counter-rally will be led by academicians and intellectuals considered close to the party, seeking the return of normalcy at JU. No party flag or banner will e used in the rally.

The TMC allege that outside forces with vested interests worsened the situation at the university.

The student protest is also expected to gather more momentum in the coming days. The students from other colleges across the country are in touch with the JU students and also the university alumni living in various cities abroad have chipped in. They will all stage protest rallies in their respective cities.

Oneindia News