Bengal Guv prevented from attending JU convocation

Tribune News Service

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Kolkata, December 24

Kolkata’s Jadavpur University today held the convocation function and conferred degrees to students after Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is also Chancellor of the university, was driven away from the university by agitators.

The protesters consisted of students and pro-Trinamool Congress (TMC) employees of the university. Dhankhar’s motorcade was stopped by protesters at gate No. 5 of the university campus, where he had gone to attend the convocation. Members of the Trinamool Congress Employees’ Union waved black flags at Dhankhar and blocked his car around 10.30 am.

The Vice-Chancellor and Registrar tried to persuade the protesters to let Dhankhar in, but to no avail.

Dhankhar lashed out at the state government alleging the situation occurred due to lack of administration. “The state government has brought the situation to this level where the education system is being politicised. The CMmust take note of this,” he said.

The Governor in a series tweets also alleged the agitation was politically motivated. Tagging the Chief Minister in one of his tweets, Dhankhar alleged the way he was being obstructed from attending the convocation proved the “rule of law had been compromised” in the state.

On Monday, the Governor was heckled and shown black flags at the university, a hub of anti-CAA protests, a day after he declared as “illegal and invalid” the university’s decision to defer the December 24 special convocation because of possible trouble.

The students said they would not like to accept degree from Dhankhar who had yesterday claimed ignorance about police excesses on Jamia students protesting the CAA and NRC. The convocation started once the Governor left the university. In the absence of the Chancellor, the VC Suranjan Das presided over the event.