The situation at Jadavpur University on Saturday spiraled into a full-blown confrontation as members of the CPI(M) student wing, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), along with activists from the Naxalite-affiliated All India Students’ Association (AISA), staged a fierce ‘gherao’ of West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu. Their primary demand was an immediate announcement of student union election dates, an issue that has been simmering in the state for months. However, what began as a vocal protest quickly transformed into a chaotic scene of aggression, destruction, and injury, underscoring the deep political divide that has gripped West Bengal’s higher education sector.
The protest started well before the minister’s arrival, with students gathering in large numbers, holding placards, and chanting slogans condemning the delay in student elections. As Basu reached the university, tensions escalated rapidly. Eyewitness accounts suggest that demonstrators aggressively surrounded the minister’s vehicle, blocking his exit and refusing to allow him to move. The protest soon turned violent, with students reportedly hurling objects at the car, smashing its windscreen, damaging the bonnet, and scrawling the word ‘broker’ on its surface as an act of defiance against the minister. In an even more provocative gesture, protesters placed shoes on the vehicle, an action considered deeply disrespectful in Indian culture.
The standoff continued for nearly two hours, leaving Basu effectively trapped within the university premises. Despite multiple attempts by security personnel and WBCUPA officials to diffuse the situation, the protesters remained adamant, demanding immediate action on their grievances. When tensions boiled over, Basu sustained injuries from shards of broken glass after protesters vandalized his car. The minister, who reportedly began experiencing chest discomfort, was quickly rushed to the state-run SSKM Hospital for medical attention. He later addressed the media upon his discharge, stating, "I have undergone an X-ray as I felt pain in my chest. However, doctors confirmed there was no serious injury. There are some external marks on my upper body, but nothing severe."
Expressing his frustration over the incident, Basu maintained that he had been willing to engage with the protesting students but was met with aggression instead of dialogue. "I was prepared to speak to the students, and the SFI even handed over a memorandum to me. However, when I attempted to board my car, over 100 protesters turned hostile, surrounded me, and blocked my exit," he explained. The minister reiterated that he had invited five student representatives for discussions in the presence of the university vice-chancellor, yet his calls for a peaceful resolution were ignored. "They weren’t interested in constructive dialogue; they only wanted chaos and anarchy. They even tried to attack my vehicle," he said.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader went on to allege that the protest was not solely led by SFI members but had also been infiltrated by ultra-left elements. In a striking claim, he accused opposing ideological factions of joining hands to disrupt the university’s peaceful environment. "Ram and Bam (right-wing and left-wing forces) have united to create unrest on the campus," Basu asserted. He further alleged that one of his party members had been physically assaulted during the unrest.
Amidst the upheaval, reports also emerged that a student had been severely beaten during the demonstration, adding another layer of violence to the already volatile situation. Witnesses described scenes of bloodshed, with injured individuals being assisted by their peers. The gravity of the violence prompted an immediate deployment of additional security personnel to restore order on campus.
The confrontation at Jadavpur University is the latest flashpoint in the ongoing debate surrounding student union elections in West Bengal. For months, student organizations have been demanding the reinstatement of democratic representation in universities, arguing that their voices have been stifled under the current administration. However, Saturday’s violent escalation has deepened concerns over the growing politicization of student movements and the fragile law-and-order situation in educational institutions.
Political reactions to the incident have been swift and polarizing. The SFI and AISA have defended their actions, claiming that student protests are necessary to counter an unresponsive government. They allege that Basu’s ministry has systematically delayed student elections to suppress opposition voices on campus. On the other hand, the TMC has condemned the violence, labeling it a politically motivated attack designed to destabilize the state's education system. Meanwhile, opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, have weighed in on the controversy, with some leaders calling for an impartial probe into the events of the day.
As the dust settles, the incident at Jadavpur University has left many questions unanswered. Will the state government now expedite the student union elections, or will the stalemate persist? How will the administration address the increasing hostility between student bodies and political leadership? Most importantly, will the university, once renowned for its academic excellence and intellectual discourse, be able to recover from the deep-seated divisions that have now erupted into open confrontation?
For now, the spotlight remains firmly on West Bengal’s education sector, as both students and political leaders navigate the aftermath of one of the most dramatic standoffs the state has witnessed in recent years.
