West Bengal: TMC minister's Jadavpur University visit sparks violence amid demand for student union election dates

The demonstrators ‘gheraoed’ West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu and damaged the windscreen of his vehicle, reported India Today.

Basu, a prominent face in Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress government,  had visited Jadavpur University to attend a meeting convened by the TMC university Teachers' Association.

The protest began before Basu’s arrival, with students raising slogans and airing their grievances.

As officials from the West Bengal College and University Professors' Association (WBCUPA) attempted to disperse them, tensions escalated into a physical confrontation, according to the report.

The situation worsened when students blocked the minister’s car, deflated its tyres, and prevented him from leaving, according to the India Today report.

The report quoted eyewitnesses as saying that protesters vandalised the vehicle, smashing its bonnet and windows. They also placed shoes on the car and scrawled the word 'broker' on its surface.

Basu remained trapped for nearly two hours before being taken to the state-run SSKM Hospital after experiencing uneasiness and sustaining gashes on his left hand from shattered glass, according to the report.

"I have undergone an X-ray as I felt pain in my chest. However, doctors told me there was no serious injury. There were some external marks on the upper part of my body, but these are not serious," he said while leaving the hospital, according to the report.

Amid the protest, Basu said he attempted to engage with the agitating students but was surrounded by over 100 protesters who refused to listen.

"I was ready to talk to the protesting students. Even the SFI handed over a memorandum to me, but when I was about to board the car again, over 100 protesters turned aggressive and surrounded me. I was ready to speak to five representatives even in the presence of the vice-chancellor, but they did not want constructive dialogue. They wanted chaos and lawlessness. They tried to attack my vehicle," he was quoted as saying by India Today.

The Trinamool leader alleged that the protesters were not solely from the SFI but included members of other ultra-left groups active on campus.

"Ram and Bam (right-wing and left forces) have joined hands to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere on the campus. They manhandled one of our members," he claimed.

Meanwhile, sources reported that one of the students was severely beaten during the protest, with eyewitnesses describing scenes of bloodshed on campus.

In response to the violence, security personnel were deployed to restore order.

SFI accuses TMC of violence on students

SFI, the students’ wing of CPI(M), accused Trinamool Congress of using violence against their peaceful demonstration demanding declaration of student union election dates.

In a statement SFI alleged that students were attacked by TMCP-affiliated individuals, including outsiders, leaving several injured.

They also accused the Education Minister’s convoy of running over a student, drawing parallels to the Lakhimpur Kheri incident.

While the government claimed the minister was attacked, SFI dismissed this as false propaganda.

Countering state government’s claim, the West Bengal Committee of SFI has announced statewide protests on March 1-2 and a student strike across universities on March 3.

BJP questions Mamata Banerjee’s leadership

BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya was swift to take a dig at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over Saturday’s student agitation at Jadavpur University.

“Just the other day, Mamata Banerjee was fist pumping and waxing eloquent about winning in 2026. Today, Bratya Basu, West Bengal’s Education Minister, was accosted by angry students at Jadavpur University,” he wrote on X, previously known as Twitter.

Malviya claimed that Mamata Banerjee and her TMC had lost popularity in West Bengal and was now resorting to force and violence.

“Basu’s cavalcade nearly ran over a student on campus, further agitating the protesters,” he wrote.

“There is enormous anger in the student community against Mamata Banerjee following her mishandling of the RG Kar rape and murder case. At this rate, 2026 may be too distant…” he added, apparently countering Mamata Banerjee’s claim that BJP wouldn’t be able to emulate its Delhi and Maharashtra poll victories in West Bengal.

On Thursday, Mamata Banerjee alleged that the BJP won in the Maharashtra and Delhi assembly elections through electoral malpractices but the similar trick would be befittingly countered in her own state which goes to polls next year.