Kolkata: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) intensified its protest at Jadavpur University (JU) amid escalating tensions on the campus, with the student organisation accusing Left-aligned groups of attempting to dominate student politics and opposing what it described as their unilateral efforts to constitute a union.
The developments followed a clash between groups of students on Wednesday night, after which ABVP supporters gathered outside the university in protest. The organisation later described its campus mobilisation as a “surgical strike” against what it termed the dominance of Left and ultra-Left groups.
According to the police, the immediate trigger was a meeting of Left-wing students from the engineering and technology faculty that was allegedly attempting to constitute a union without consensus. ABVP supporters on the campus opposed the move, following which a confrontation broke out.
Police said that a group of students took shelter inside Aurobindo Bhavan after the confrontation. A police team subsequently entered the campus after receiving a complaint through Dial 100 and a request for assistance from the university’s pro-vice-chancellor.
The police said its personnel removed outsiders from the campus and found around 50-60 people inside Aurobindo Bhavan, where the meeting was continuing. Some posters and festoons outside the building were also found torn and burnt, according to the police.
The situation escalated again on Thursday afternoon when hundreds of ABVP supporters marched towards Jadavpur University from Gol Park. The protesters were demonstrating against what they described as the previous night’s attack on ABVP members.
Police attempted to stop the march near Jadavpur police station. However, the protesters subsequently moved towards the university gates. JU security personnel locked the main gate as the crowd approached, while police and security forces were deployed around the campus.
ABVP central working committee member Subhabrata Adhikari said the organisation’s campaign was aimed at challenging the alleged influence of Left and ultra-Left groups at the university. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day remarks on “dimaagi Naxals”, Adhikari said ABVP had begun the process of “neutralising” such ideological influence at JU.
During the confrontation, protesters allegedly damaged part of the university emblem at the main entrance, designed by renowned artist Nandalal Bose. The incident further heightened concerns over the deteriorating atmosphere on the campus.
Jadavpur University Vice-Chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharjee condemned the assault and announced the formation of a probe committee to examine the incidents. However, he did not lodge an FIR against the alleged attackers.
The BJP, meanwhile, distanced itself from the group gathered outside the university, with state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya stating that those present had no connection with the party.
The latest confrontation has once again brought student politics at Jadavpur University into focus, with ABVP maintaining that it will continue to oppose the alleged dominance of Left-wing organisations on the campus.
