Few want GD Birla to stay shut, says Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata: Condemning the sexual assault on a four-year-old student at G.D. Birla Centre for Education chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday claimed that a conspiracy was underway by shutting down the school in south Kolkata. The private school has been shut down for the past three days even as a meeting for a way-out went in vain.

“A barbaric incident took place in a school. But someone is fishing in the troubled water by conspiring through shutting down the school,” Ms Banerjee said at a Trinamul rally on Mayo Road.

Only a day before she affirmed that the offenders would be punished while urging that the academic atmosphere should not be hampered.

Her observation came on a day the West Bengal State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights summoned school principal Sharmila Nath for revealing the victim’s identity to the media. Ms Nath has been asked to appear before the panel and explain why she took the name.

Throughout the day the protests by the students’ guardians continued as there was no wayout. State child rights panel chief Ananya Chakraborti visited the school and met the authorities. She said, “The meeting focused on reopening the school. For reopening the school the main condition was removal of the principal. We told them the cause for the removal as she revealed the victim’s identity and she also tried protect the accused.”

She added, “The school authorities informed that they would declare their decision about the removal of the principal by 5 pm on Thursday.”

Actor June Malia who accompanied her made it clear that the principal should be removed. But the guardians later appeared divided.

While one camp wanted the principal’s removal first, another group demanded the reopening of the school and resumption of academic activities.