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Jadavpur University Faces Extremism Debate Amid Excellence Funding
Jadavpur University is being discussed as a possible centre of excellence.
This means the government wants it to become a leading university.
The education minister said students must decide whether the campus is known for excellence or extremism.
The government has proposed large funding for this plan.
The argument began after clashes and alleged vandalism on campus.
Left-leaning students said the ABVP was responsible for extremist actions.
The ABVP denied that characterization and pointed to slogans written by Left and ultra-Left students.
Different groups are therefore blaming each other for the unrest.
Higher education minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay urged Jadavpur University students to choose between becoming a centre of excellence or extremism.
A state budget plan proposes ₹1,000 crore from the central government and ₹250 crore from the state over five years for Jadavpur University.
The remarks followed Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s accusation that some students promoted anti-national activities and his threat to clear them out.
Campus unrest began after the ABVP allegedly vandalised the university on August 20 following an alleged assault on its unit president.
Left-leaning students blamed the ABVP for extremist activity, while ABVP president Nikhil Das cited pro-Kashmir and pro-Kishanji slogans as evidence of extremism.
- Who
- Higher education minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Jadavpur University students, Left-leaning student groups and the ABVP are involved.
- What
- A debate has emerged over whether Jadavpur University should be developed as a centre of excellence or is being affected by extremist activity.
- Where
- Jadavpur University in Bengal; Chattopadhyay spoke after attending a programme in New Town.
- When
- Chattopadhyay made the remarks on Wednesday; the latest unrest began after an alleged August 20 campus incident following an alleged assault on August 19.
- Why
- The comments followed campus unrest, allegations of vandalism and accusations from opposing student groups about extremist activity.
Minister and ABVP position
Left-leaning student position
What constitutes extremism
Minister and ABVP position
Jagannath Chattopadhyay said students must prevent Jadavpur University from becoming a centre of extremism. ABVP president Nikhil Das cited slogans such as “Red Salute to Kishanji” and “Kashmir Maange Azadi” as signs of extremism.
Left-leaning student position
Left-leaning students said any extremist activity on campus was carried out by ABVP supporters. They argued that the minister was deflecting attention from alleged ABVP vandalism.
Responsibility for the August 20 unrest
Minister and ABVP position
The ABVP said it entered the campus to retaliate against an alleged assault on its unit president, Nikhil Das, by Left student supporters.
Left-leaning student position
Left student representatives alleged that ABVP supporters threw fireballs, threatened students and damaged the university emblem while attempting to enter through Gate No. 4.
Government response
Minister and ABVP position
The government has proposed ₹1,000 crore in central funding and ₹250 crore in state funding to develop Jadavpur University as an institute of excellence.
Left-leaning student position
Left-leaning students said government ministers should condemn and take action over the alleged vandalism instead of asking students to decide whether the university represents excellence or extremism.
Key facts
- Proposed central funding
- ₹1,000 crore over five years
- Proposed state funding
- ₹250 crore over five years
- Student population
- Approximately 14,000 to 15,000 students
- Minister’s position
- Students must choose between excellence and extremism
- Campus unrest
- It followed an alleged August 20 ABVP vandalism incident
- ABVP allegation
- ABVP said Left and ultra-Left slogans reflected extremism
- Student groups’ allegation
- Left-leaning students said ABVP supporters carried out extremist activity and vandalism
Quotes
Jagannath Chattopadhyay
West Bengal higher education minister
“The BJP government in Bengal in its first budget chose Jadavpur University as a centre of excellence, allocating ₹1,000 crore for this. The 14,000 to 15,000 students of Jadavpur University have to decide whether Jadavpur will emerge as a centre of excellence or will be known as a centre of extremism”
telegraphindia.com
“The minister is not saying anything about the vandalism by the ABVP. He is not condemning the extremist activities by the RSS’s student wing. Rather, he is leaving it to the students to decide whether they want JU to emerge as a centre of excellence or a centre of extremism”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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