Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took out a rally in Kolkata to protest against the assault that happened on the Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Babul Supriyo at Jadavpur University on Thursday evening. Senior leaders of the state unit like Joy Prakash Majumdar, Vice President Dr Sayantan Bose and Raju Banerjee were seen leading the march. The march saw hundreds of supporters who were brought in from districts to participate in the protest rally after yesterday's horrific incident. The protest started from the BJP HQ at Central Avenue and stopped at Dharmatala where they blocked the main roads to protest against yesterday's incident.

BJP leaders on the assault

"I was molested, heckled," said BJP leader and acclaimed fashion designer Agnimitra Paul who was present with Babul Supriyo at JU when the incident took place a day back. She stated that many people had encircled her and others at the JU and she felt extremely threatened for her life. She even registered a formal complaint at the Jadavpur Police Station before participating at the protest rally. As the protesters chanted slogans of justice, Vice president of the Bengal unit, Dr Sayantan Bose said that there was a deliberate attempt by Left-wing students to attack Babul Supriyo. Dr Bose even stated that had not the Governor intervened, Supriyo could have been killed. Questioning the administration, he also hit out at the police for being late in solving the issue.

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How it all started 

It all started on Thursday when Union minister Babul Supriyo was first shown black flags and greeted with 'go back' slogans as he entered the University premises to be the chief guest for an indoor event organized by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad(ABVP) and then heckled by a section of students at Jadavpur University. Members of the Students Federation of India(SFI) with banners and placards tried to block Supriyo from entering which lead to a massive verbal spat with members of SFI. The verbal spat escalated to greater heights when Supriyo alleged that he and his team were not only abused in filthy language but also physically hit. The students, on the other hand, were allegedly manhandled by the minister's men. Vice Chancellor of Jadavpur University Suranjan Das to the spot when the situation was getting out of hand. Das tried to calm the situation down but initially failed as Supriyo alleged him to be hand in glove with the protesters. After a couple of rounds of heated arguments, where Supriyo challenged the students on a debate with him, he made his way to the hall where the event was to happen. The VC was rushed to AMRI hospital as he became unconscious in the middle of this massive escalation.

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While coming out, he was blocked again by the Left-wing students, asking him to apologize for his 'allegedly' unruly behaviour. Supriyo refused and sat on the bonnet of a TV OB van. With the standoff continued, a statement was issued from Raj Bhavan, describing the incident as “unlawful detention of a Union minister” and “very serious reflection on the law and order of the state and on the conduct of the law enforcing agencies.” The statement revealed that Governor Jagdeep Dhankar spoke to the state’s chief secretary Malay De, who said that instructions were being issued to the Kolkata Police commissioner to handle the situation. The Governor took an initiative to end the deadlock by reaching the spot physically and trying to solve the ruckus by getting Babul out of the campus in his car. Jagdeep Dhankar who is also the Chancellor of the University apprised CM Banerjee of the situation and asked her to act fast. The Governor's car too was blocked by the agitating students who would not let it pass until Babul apologized. The situation at Gate No 4 of the arts section worsened as ABVP supporters ransacked the arts union room. Kolkata Police quietly and suddenly cleared the area behind the vehicle allowing the driver to reverse, turn around sharply, and speed off from the Gate No 3.

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