Improper of VC to not take prompt steps: WB Guv on Babul Supriyo gherao

"With respect to the 'gherao' of Union Minister Babul Supriyo by a section of students, the Governor of the State, Jagdeep Dhankhar has taken a very serious view and has spoken to the Chief Secretary of West Bengal, Malay Kumar De, who has indicated that a prompt direction is being issued to the Commissioner of Police earlier," the Press Secretary to Governor said in a statement.

Dhankhar has also spoken to the Vice-Chancellor of the University Suranjan Das and said it was improper of him to not have taken any prompt action in the matter.

"Governor spoke to the VC of Jadavpur University and indicated to him that it was improper for him not to have taken prompt steps in the matter, that can lead to unwholesome results," the statement said.

Dhankhar said this is a very serious reflection on the law and order of the state.

"The Governor takes the incident very seriously as it involves unlawful detention of a Union Minister and this is a very serious reflection on the law and order of the state and on the conduct of the law enforcing agencies," said he.

What happened?

Babul Supriyo faced massive protest by the students of Jadavpur University on Thursday after being heckled earlier in the day for entering the campus with an armed force to attend a programme by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the RSS.

Not only was he heckled but had been gheraoed by members of two Left-leaning organizations - Arts Faculty Students' Union (AFSU) and Students Federation of India - (SFI).

Following the news of harassment of Supriyo, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar rushed to the campus to 'save' the BJP MP.

Although he managed to rescue the BJP leader but had to sit inside his car with Supriyo for a long time.

His convoy finally managed to leave the campus.

As he enetered the campus, Supriyo was shown black flags and allegedly heckled by a section of students at JU.

"I did not come here to do politics. But I am saddened by the behaviour of some of the students of the university, the way they have heckled me. They pulled me by my hair and pushed me," Supriyo told reporters visiting the campus.

BJP leader and designer Agnimitra Paul was reportedly manhandled as well. She alleged that the protesters pulled her hair and even tried to remove her saree.

In retaliation to the demonstration by SFI, ABVP students went on a rampage and damaged several university properties including a union’s office.

A large contingent of police force ruched to the spot even as the agitators refused to budge on their decision.

Meanwhile, JU Vice Chancellor Suranjan Das, who rushed to the spot following the incident, had tried to reason with agitating students.

But as the situation turned grim, he fell sick and was taken to a hospital.