ABVP, Left groups clash at Jadavpur University; BJP distances itself from student outfit
Tensions at Jadavpur University intensified on Thursday, August 20 as ABVP and Left-leaning student groups clashed over allegations of violence and the entry of outsiders into the campus, with the BJP distancing itself from the RSS-affiliated student organisation even as rival groups staged demonstrations outside the varsity.
Several students were injured in the confrontation, which began during a general body meeting of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Students' Union (FETSU) on Wednesday and continued late into the night. Some injured students were taken to hospital, while fire was also set at several places on the main campus, university officials said.
Vice Chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharya described the violence as undesirable and said an inquiry committee would be constituted to establish the circumstances leading to the clashes. He said entry of outsiders into the campus had been restricted after dusk.
“Different ideologies co-exist on the campus. Being an alumnus of JU, I had been exposed to this plurality of views, the liberal space provided by this university. As the VC, I think the law of the land should be applicable on campus, and there should be security,” he told reporters.
ABVP alleged that members of Left student organisations, including SFI and DSO-DSF, confronted its members during the FETSU meeting. The Left groups, however, accused ABVP supporters of bringing outsiders onto the campus and indulging in vandalism.
A university official alleged that an ABVP worker was slapped during the confrontation and that a mob, allegedly comprising local BJP workers, entered the campus around 1 am and assaulted Left student union members.
BJP West Bengal president Samik Bhattacharya, however, said ABVP was not the party's student wing and functioned independently.
“ABVP is not the student wing of BJP. It is a nationalistic student’s body which functions independently and is not a branch organisation of the BJP,” he said.
The BJP's Jadavpur MLA Sarbori Mukherjee, who participated in an ABVP rally, accused the university of becoming a “factory that produces anti-nationals”.
The unrest spilled outside the campus on Thursday, with ABVP supporters breaching police barricades near Gate No. 4, while SFI supporters clashed with police near the 8B bus stand after attempting to march towards the university.
Jadavpur University Teachers' Association condemned the entry of outsiders and vandalism, and called for peaceful academic activity on campus.
The vice chancellor said the university would not support a police outpost on campus in view of a High Court order, but added that enhanced security measures would be considered. He also said he would speak to Governor R N Ravi, the university's chancellor.
(With inputs from PTI)
