BJP slams ‘terrorist’ students

West Bengal BJP chief vows 'surgical strike on anti-nat'l hubs'; TMC stands 'in solidarity with VC and students'

Noted personalities, teachers condemn minister's behaviors with VC, students 

The heckling and manhandling of India's junior minister for Environment and Climate Change Babul Supriyo by a section of students at Jadavpur University on Thursday has become the latest flash-point between Bharatiya Janata Party and the state's ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal.

Describing a section of JU students as "nothing less than terrorists", West Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh on Friday said there should be a Balakot-like surgical strike to "destroy anti-national hubs in JU campus". The ruling TMC, meanwhile, directed its criticism at the state governor for rushing to the university, and expressed solidarity with the VC and students of JU.

The protest against the minister was held by workers of pro-CPI(M) students unions of the University when Supriyo had gone to address a seminar organized by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), affiliated to the RSS, the BJP's ideological mentor.

As the news of heckling of Supriyo spread, a group of youth wielding sticks and iron rods, stated to be ABVP activists, reached the Jadavpur University, ransacked the students' union office.

State Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar also rushed to JU. The minister was eventually escorted out of the campus after 5 hours with the help of police.

A day after the heckling of Supriyo who was also pulled by his hairs, Ghosh said, "No one has given anyone the right to lay hands on a minister. We know how to break their hands and soon we will do it."

He also demanded immediate resignation of JU Vice-Chancellor Suranjan Das for allegedly failing to control the situation.

Meanwhile, the Jadavpur University Teachers Association condemned the way a union minister talked to the VC during the agitation by students and alleged his behavior insulted the entire fraternity of University. It said the agitating students should not have been "provoked" by some of the "objectionable" comments and gestures of the minister.

A group of 15 prominent personalities, including film director Aparna Sen, expressed concern over the minister's behaviour with the VC and the conduct of Supriyo's security personnel with the students.

Jadavpur University in southern suburb of Kolkata has for long been a stronghold of pro-Left student unions. Our News Delhi correspondent said Thursday's incident might help the ABVP to gain a toe-hold in the university.

Ahead of the state assembly elections due in 2021, experts say, violence between the BJP and joint front of the Left and Trinamool Congress is likely to go up in the coming months.