3 days ago
JU teachers urge Suvendu to resume student elections
Teachers and students at Jadavpur University want student union elections to return.
They say elections would show which groups really have student support.
They criticised Suvendu Adhikari for saying the contest was “us or them.”
They also objected to his message that the ABVP should teach Jadavpur students a lesson.
Students alleged that ABVP supporters attacked and damaged parts of the campus on August 20.
The ABVP says its numbers are growing and that it wants to compete in elections.
It also says it would win at Jadavpur University.
The last student union elections at the university were held in January 2020.
Jadavpur University teachers and students urged Suvendu Adhikari to restart student union elections.
They criticised his reported call for the ABVP to establish control over JU and his “us or them” remarks.
Students alleged that ABVP supporters raided and vandalised the campus twice on August 20.
Campus elections at state-aided universities such as JU were last held in January 2020.
The ABVP said its support was growing, demanded elections and claimed it would win at JU.
- Who
- Jadavpur University teachers and students, Suvendu Adhikari, and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
- What
- Teachers and students called for the resumption of student union elections amid criticism of Suvendu’s remarks and an alleged ABVP campus push.
- Where
- Jadavpur University, including the area outside Gate No. 2.
- When
- The remarks were made on Friday and responses were reported on Saturday; the last campus elections were held in January 2020.
- Why
- Teachers and students said elections should determine student support through voting and debate rather than coercion; the ABVP said it wanted elections because it believed it would win.
Critics of the campus push
ABVP’s position
How support should be tested
Critics of the campus push
Teachers and students said student union elections should determine which groups have support on campus.
ABVP’s position
The ABVP said it wanted elections and claimed it would win everywhere, including Jadavpur University.
Political strategy on campus
Critics of the campus push
Critics said Suvendu’s remarks encouraged coercion and physical control instead of ideological debate.
ABVP’s position
The ABVP said it was prepared to participate in elections but would respond if its unit president were assaulted.
ABVP’s level of support
Critics of the campus push
Some students said ABVP support had declined after the alleged August 20 campus violence.
ABVP’s position
The ABVP state secretary said the organisation’s numbers were growing.
Key facts
- Last campus elections
- January 2020
- University
- Jadavpur University
- Political remark
- Suvendu Adhikari said, “It’s either them (students) or us. Nothing will exist in between.”
- Reported campus incidents
- ABVP supporters allegedly raided and vandalised the campus twice on August 20.
- Teachers’ position
- The contest for student support should be based on reason and informed debate, not thuggery.
- ABVP position
- The organisation said its numbers were growing, requested elections and expected to win at JU.
Quotes
Neelkantha Bhattacharjee
ABVP state secretary
“I have only this to tell the boys of the Vidyarthi Parishad: JNU..., Osmania University... You have taught them a lesson. Jadavpur has yet to be taught a lesson...”
telegraphindia.com
“Who are they? We are close to the final reckoning. It’s either them (students) or us. Nothing will exist in between.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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