The stalemate at the Presidency University ended here on Saturday as the agitating students lifted the gherao of Vice-Chancellor Anuradha Lohia who was forced to stay inside the campus for 24 hours.
The protests fizzled out after the University authorities remained firm on holding in the convocation and majority of the students participated in the ceremony held later during the day.
West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi who also the Chancellor of the University, also lent his support to University authorities and said students are there for learning not for protests. After the convocation, V-C Prof. Lohia left the University.
The students, however, said that they would continue their sit in demonstration in front of the Vice Chancellor’s office in protest against the alleged police assault on students during Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s visit to the University on Friday.
The University witnessed dramatic scenes for the second consecutive day. While on Friday, the protests erupted after the visit of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday students raised slogans against State Education Minister Partha Chaterjee. Sensing trouble, the Minister accompanied the Governor in his vehicle to reach the venue of convocation.
As students continued with raising slogans in the office of VC, she described the protests as “hooliganism”. She said that many students from other campuses whom she had not seen in the University.
During her speech at the convocation ceremony, Ms. Lohia referred to the agitation as “unpleasant incidents” and said that the agitation hampered the academic activities in the University. “I must thank all the faculty members and a section of students for supporting me and ensuring that nothing would disrupt the convocation,” she added.
“I have come here to participate in the convocation and I don’t want to get involved in the protest,” Abhijit Tarafdar, a student who participated in the convocation said.
Protests fizzled out after University authorities remained firm on holding on the convocation
Governor supported the authorities and said students are there for learning not for protests
