What happened
Reports said the incident happened when Basu was at the JU campus to attend the annual general meeting of West Bengal College and University Professors Association(WBCUPA). When he tried to speak to the agitating students, around 100 students surrounded him and damaged the windscreen of his car, showed him shoes and smashed the rearview mirror of his vehicle.
Basu was taken to state-run SSKM Hospital where he complained about uneasiness and suffering gashes on his left hand which was hit by broken glass shreds.
“I have undergone an x-ray test 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,” the minister told reporters.
Minister’s claim
Basu is also the president of West Bengal College and University Professors Association (WBCUPA). He said the real undemocratic, unruly self of the left student’s outfit was exposed by their protests as they shouted slogans against the members of the teaching community.
The minister claimed that several WBCUPA members were injured after being physically assaulted by the protesting students.
Students’ demand
On the other hand, SFI leader Kaushiki Bhattacharya said the students only wanted to have a discussion with the Education minister. “We did not resort to violence. It is the TMC outsiders who joined some of their sympathisers on the campus to attack our activists and use abusive language against us,” she said.
SFI and AISA have also demanded action against Basu, alleging his car had deliberately sped away from the campus, leading to injuries to the two students.
Indranuj Roy, a first-year student stated to be a member of AISA, and another student of the outfit, fell on the ground as the convoy of the minister was trying to leave the campus with protesters seen hanging from the side of the cars trying to stop Basu from leaving.
With inputs from PTI
