31 SFI members of Jadavpur University quit over sexual abuse 'inaction' by Left student wing
Kolkata/IBNS: While there is a wave of sympathy and solidarity with the Left students in JNU after a violent attack on them, in Kolkata's hotbed of student politics, the Jadavpur University campus, the Student Federation of India (SFI) is jolted by the demons of sexual abuse charges and alleged inaction.
At least 31 of its members from Arts Department of Jadavpur University (JU) resigned alleging that the students' body took no action against an incident of sexual abuse, media reports said.
The resignation letter of the SFI members with 31 signatures as circulated on social media has said no action has been taken against the accused. In the letter it lashed out at inherent patriarchy within the leadership, power tussle, gender discrimination, casteism and taunting for smoking cigarettes and wearing short dresses.
The letter said charges as serious as of "rape" has been brought against an SFI leader of a local committee and yet no inquiry has concluded over months.
Reacting to the incident, SFI state secretary Srijon Bhattacharya said the members resigned in the middle of the inquiry into the alleged incident.
Bhattacharya told IBNS, "A complaint was lodged against one of our state committee members in JU. The inquiry was underway. In the middle of the inquiry, the complainants had left the organisation. Now we can't hold someone guilty prima facie. We all have to wait till the completion of the inquiry process. We are helpless if they can't wait for the completion of the inquiry. "
When asked whether the mass resignation is a jolt to the organisation at a time it is protesting against the attack on Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students, Bhattacharya said, "It is definitely not a welcome thing to hear about a Comrade. But I don't think the incident is a jolt to our movement against the BJP in a broader sense. This is because people know SFI's role in safeguarding the Constitution and its fight against the BJP."
The students' election in Jadavpur University will be held on Feb 19. The Arts Department is presently ruled by the SFI.
JU campus and its Left union are at the forefront of protests over various issues against the ruling BJP in India.
Soon after the JNU violence, it hit the streets raising slogans, burning tyres and singing songs in solidarity with the ongoing nation-wide protests.
(Image Credit: IBNS File)
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