Union Minister Babul Supriyo was heckled by left-wing and TMC activists at Jadavpur University in Kolkata today. The Asansol MP had gone to the university to attend an event organised by ABVP welcoming freshers. The minister who is also an accomplished singer, was invited to perform at the event.
Ahead of his visit, activists of Students Federation of India and Trinamool Chhatra Parishad, the student wings of CPI and TMC, had prepared to stop the union minister from entering the university. When Babul Supriyo arrived at the university, the activists gathered at the gate blocking it and presented him from entering the campus at the gate.
Amide the slogans of “Babul Supriyo go back”, the minister was shoved and pushed back by the activists holding red flags. The minister was also manhandled by several people. Some pulled his shirt, while one student was pulling his hair. In the pushing and pulling, Babul Supriyo fell on the ground, and the collar of his shirt was torn.
Video shows the moment far left student organization’s students assault Union Minister #BJP MP #BabulSupriyo at #JadavpurUniversity while attending a programme arranged by #ABVP. #Kolkata pic.twitter.com/LSA9rcf88P
— Deepayan Sinha (@sdeepayan) September 19, 2019
The students kept gheraoing Supriyo for more than three hours, with the minister also refusing to leave. The vice-chancellor of the university Suranjan Das tried to rescue him by reasoning with the activists, but he also could not do anything. Supriyo even slammed the VC for failing to control the situation at the university. He said that the VC should have come earlier.
MP Swapan Dasgupta said that the students opposing Babul Supriyo also were supporting azadi in Kashmir.
Disgraceful scenes in Jadavpur University as pro-Naxal students supporting azadi in Kashmir block entry of @SuPriyoBabul. All this happening despite attempt by VC to appeal for calm. This is the state of some of our universities where a small minority flex their muscles
— Swapan Dasgupta (@swapan55) September 19, 2019
In the incident which was telecast live on TV, Babul Supriyo was seen arguing with the student activists saying that he has full right to enter the university. He had invited the students for a debate on issues, but the students were adamant, insisting that they will not allow him to enter the university.
Fashion designer Agnimitra Paul who had joined BJP recently, was accompanying Supriyo and she too had to face the ire of students. One of the security guard of the minister was also pushed by students, and the magazine of his firearm fell to the ground as a result of this.
These msgs were forwarded overnight b4 the disgraceful scenes in Jadavpur University as pro-Naxal students block entry of Union Minister Shri @SuPriyoBabul. State of some of our universities where a small minority flex their muscles @BJP4Bengal @BJPLive @ABVPVoice @AbvpBengal pic.twitter.com/Gz4BfMPc9u
— BJP Asansol (@BJP4Asansol) September 19, 2019
BJP Asansol said that pro-Naxal students had organised the blockade of Babul Supriyo at Jadavpur University by sending messages. They posted a message on Twitter which was purportedly sent by the left-wing activists to gather protesters.
Babul Supriyo was again blocked when he was leaving the university, as his vehicle was surrounded by students. He was still gheraoed by students at the moment of publishing this report. While the vice-chancellor had to be hospitalised as he fell ill during the heckling.
