Suvendu Adhikari warns Jadavpur University ‘anti-national’ sympathisers of strict action
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday warned that the government would take strict action against what he described as “anti-national forces” at Jadavpur University, saying it would respond firmly if slogans calling for “Kashmir freedom” were raised on the campus.
Speaking in the Assembly, Adhikari said the government would follow the language of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose rather than Mahatma Gandhi if such slogans were raised.
He said sympathisers of “anti-national forces” at the university required “strict medicines” and asserted that those supporting slogans such as “Bharat tere tukde honge” would face action.
Adhikari was speaking during the tabling of an amendment Bill that seeks to enable the inter-university transfer of teaching and non-teaching staff.
Defending the proposed legislation, he said it would balance the autonomy of universities with their accountability to the government. He also said the Bill would allow “so-called pundits” to be transferred to newly established institutions that could benefit from their expertise.
“The Bill will balance institutes' autonomy and accountability towards the government,” Adhikari said, adding that the legislation would not affect PhD supervision or ongoing projects. He also said those unhappy with its provisions were free to leave their jobs.
Adhikari said Jadavpur University would receive grants of Rs 1,300 crore but warned against activities that, according to him, threatened the country’s unity.
He also referred to the 1970 killing of former Jadavpur University vice chancellor Gopal Sen and said the government would constitute a panel to investigate the incident if required.
On the controversy surrounding a meat-related diktat by Dhirendra Shastri of Bageshwar Dham, Adhikari said he had instructed the Kolkata Police commissioner to arrest those who burnt portraits of the self-styled godman during recent protests by Congress workers.
Adhikari also said the opposition lost the West Bengal Assembly elections because of its “disrespect” towards the saffron colour and claimed it would suffer another defeat in the upcoming by-elections.
