Mamata Banerjee intervenes, Jadavpur V-C quits

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s personal intervention at last helped resolve the four-month long stalemate at Jadavpur University. She surprised every one after she suddenly visited the university campus on Monday evening and announced vice-chancellor Abhijit Chakrabarti resignation.

The agitating students exploded in jubilation after Ms Banerjee made the announcement.

The V-C’s resignation finally brought down curtains on the drama which had begun with police raid on the campus on the night of September16.

“I just spoke to the vice-chancellor and he informed me that he too wanted the unrest to end peace prevails in campus. He is resigning,” Ms Banerjee said outside Aurobindo Bhawan. Sources said that after holding brief talks with fasting students and with university authorities in V-C’s chamber at the administrative building Aurobindo Bhawan,

Ms Banerjee herself asked Mr Chakrabarti to step down. “The credit for this goes to the students and not to me,” Ms Banerjee added. She explained that she took the initiative to resolve the deadlock considering the future of the students and those who were on hunger strike.

The pressure on the university authorities as well as the state government mounted after 12 students started a fast unto death on January 5 to press for the resignation of the vice-chancellor. The situation turned alarming after health of some students deteriorated necessitating their hospitalisation. As many as 17 students were observing indefinite hunger strike when Ms Banerjee made the announcement. On Monday, many parents also joined fasting students as a mark of solidarity. The administration was clearly concerned about the health of the fasting students.

On Sunday, Prof Chakrabarti was asked to stay away from the varsity campus and pro vice-chancellor Asish Verma was given charge. Education minister Partha Chatterjee had apprised Ms Banerjee of the situation at the university.