After abuse and harassment of doctors on duty resulted in over a week-long strike bringing the healthcare facilities in West Bengal to a screeching halt, another incident of political elements abusing a University professor has come to light.
As per reports, Dr Saraswati Kerketa, a professor at the Rabindra Bharati University has alleged that a group of students belonging to the TMCP, (Trinamool Chhatra Parishad) had harassed and abused her, hurled casteist and derogatory remarks against her and even threatened her safety and well being. TMCP is the student wing of TMC.
Shocking Allegations of #CasteDiscrimination against a #Tribal prof Dr. Saraswati Kerketta.
After Mass-resignatoon of Doctors, now backward section profs mass-resign in #Kolkata. #Professors of #RabindraBhartiUniversity in Kolkata allege castism against #TMC students. pic.twitter.com/p1lT6crfoF
— Mayukh Ranjan Ghosh (@mayukhrghosh) June 18, 2019
Dr Saraswati Kerketa has mentioned in her letter that several students from the union had visited her at her office and had threatened and abused her. She stated that the students also threw a bottle at her and did not allow her to sit, eat or drink anything for hours, despite her pleading that she has an orthopaedic condition.
They also hurled casteist abuses and insulted her gender, colour, background and her place of birth. After the ordeal, when she was on her way home, she was also allegedly followed by some of those students which had forced her to seek refuge at a friend’s house.
Following Dr Kerketa’s complaint and some other incidents, several faculty members at the university have tendered their resignations protesting against the menace of TMCP members. As per reports, Dr Kerketa was being harassed by TMCP members since late May and when some other faculty members objected to it and protested, the TMCP members had gheraoed them for five hours recently. Following the incident, seven faculty members, 4 HoDs and 3 Deans have decided to resign.
As per reports, the heads of Bengali, Sanskrit, Economics and Political Sciences departments and the Deans of The School of Languages and Culture, Department of Visual Arts and BR Ambedkar Study Centre at the Rabindra Bharti University have tendered their resignations on Monday.
Following the resignations, WB education minister Partha Chatterjee had reportedly visited the university yesterday and met faculty members. He also spoke to VC Sabyasachi Basu Ray Chaudhry who had ordered an inquiry into the incidents. The VC has stated that Dr Saraswati Kerketa’s letter has been submitted to the Executive Council and investigations have already started. He promised that the guilty will not be spared.
