Jadavpur University protests: VC appeals to end impasse

KOLKATA: Jadavpur University vice-chancellor Abhijit Chakrabarti has appealed to teachers and students of the institute through a newspaper advertisement to come forward for a discussion to end the stalemate that it has been going through ever since police allegedly attacked protesting students on the campus on the night of September 17.

Students of the university, which is supposed to open on Monday after the Puja vacation, went on the warpath last month demanding resignation of the vice-chancellor, who they blamed for the police action. However, the state government decided to stand beside Chakrabarti, giving him a tenured position from that of acting vice-chancellor.

The students gheraoed Chakrabarti and other members of the university's executive council on September 16 demanding inclusion of external members in a committee that was formed to probe a complaint of sexual harassment of a student. While the students felt that to ensure a fair probe, it was imperative that the probe panel had external members, the university authorities decided otherwise.

As the vice-chancellor sought administrative help to remove the students' blockade on the intervening night of September 16-17, a huge police force entered the campus and allegedly beat up the protesters mercilessly. Several students had to be hospitalized. There were allegations against the police personnel of behaving indecently with the university's women students as well.

Chakrabarti told TOI on Sunday he was not sure whether the atmosphere on the campus would be conducive enough for him to enter the office as it opened on Monday. He told TOI that he had sent feelers to the students through some of his trusted aides on campus, asking them to come to the discussion table to end the impasse.

"I hope that the newspaper appeal would work. I have made my stand clear in the appeal by saying that I am calling all concerned to come forward to overcome the impasse. Negotiation in a democratic way is most welcome. I will now wait for reciprocation from the students," Chakrabarti told TOI.

The students, on the other hand, said they would not respond to the Chakrabarti's appeal till it actually appeared on Monday. "The arts students will meet for a general body meeting on Monday afternoon. A decision could be taken after that," said a students' spokesperson.