After the ministers and MPs, according to Trinamool Congress sources, chief minister Mamata Banerjee too is unhappy with the way the students’ movement at Jadavpur University (JU) is gaining popularity and is embarrassing the state government. Soon the party might initiate the process of sacking JU vice-chancellor Abhijit Chakarabarti, which students and non- teaching staff of the university has been demanding for the last three months.
After the convocation of JU on December 24 where several students refused to accept certificates and medals demanding sacking of Chakrabarti, education minister Partha Chatterjee was summoned by Mamata to discuss the Jadavpur issue. The chief minister reportedly expressed her dissatisfaction over the way the issue was being handled and the way the movement was gaining popularity.
According to Trinamool insiders in a few week s Chatterjee might meet Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi to seek Chakrabarti’s removal. Several ministers, MLAs and MPs within the party want him to be removed to save the government from further embarrassment.
On December 26, panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee praised Geetashri Sarkar, the best undergraduate medal winner from the university who refused her medals and certificates at the convocation.
Sarkar, a Bengali honours student like the rest of her peers, did not accept the certificate and medals as she was demanding vice- chancellor Abhijit Chakrabarti’s resignation. Praising the girl at the sidelines of an event, Mukherjee said, “She has lodged her protest in a non-violent way. They way she has lodged the protest has created an example of how a non violent protest should be.”
{{/usCountry}}Sarkar, a Bengali honours student like the rest of her peers, did not accept the certificate and medals as she was demanding vice- chancellor Abhijit Chakrabarti’s resignation. Praising the girl at the sidelines of an event, Mukherjee said, “She has lodged her protest in a non-violent way. They way she has lodged the protest has created an example of how a non violent protest should be.”
{{/usCountry}}Asked whether Sarkar has done the right thing, Mukherjee had said, “I cannot say whether her act of refusal was right or wrong. Only learned people will be able to comment. But I liked her non- violent protest.” Consumer affairs minister Sadhan Pandey too had taken a dig at Chakrabarti. On Monday however Chatterjee came out in support of Chakrabarti and had even said Pandey has been snubbed for his comment.