“Till 4pm…”: Jadavpur University Students Set Deadline for VC to Address Unrest Following Minister’s Vehicle Fiasco, VC Rushed to Hospital Amid Protests

The protesting students of Jadavpur University have given interim Vice-Chancellor Bhaskar Gupta an ultimatum, demanding a meeting by 4 PM on Wednesday to address the unrest following an incident in which West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu's vehicle reportedly ran over a student, grievously injuring him. If Gupta fails to meet the deadline, the students have warned of escalating protests. Meanwhile, Gupta was rushed to a private hospital with his wife due to fluctuating blood pressure and deteriorating health, where both a neurologist and a cardiologist are expected to examine him.

The protesting students have argued that Bhaskar Gupta, the interim Vice Chancellor, was present on the campus during the incident and therefore bears moral responsibility. They are demanding that the Vice-Chancellor issue an order for a proper investigation and take action against those responsible for the violence. In a press conference on Tuesday, the representatives from these student organizations made it clear that the Vice-Chancellor had until 4 PM on Wednesday to meet their demands. “If he does not come, it will prove that he has submitted to the influence of a particular political party. In that case, we will walk the path of a larger movement,” said the students.

Since Saturday’s unrest, the Vice-Chancellor has been unwell, with fluctuating blood pressure. Reports indicate that Gupta had previously suffered a stroke, which raised concerns when his blood pressure spiked again amidst the ongoing protests. His wife immediately contacted their family doctor, who recommended that he be taken to the hospital. Gupta was then rushed to a private hospital with his wife, where both a neurologist and a cardiologist are expected to examine him. Although Bhaskar Gupta attended an online meeting, he has not visited the campus since the incident, leading to growing frustration among the students.

In the meantime, a sit-in protest has been ongoing in front of Arobinda Bhavan, the official building of the university. In addition to the Vice-Chancellor’s apology, the protesters are demanding that a "hit-and-run" case be filed against Education Minister Bratya Basu. The protesters maintain that the Vice-Chancellor was present on campus during the incident and must come to campus by 4:00pm to apologise unconditionally.

On Saturday, West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu’s vehicle was attacked by protesting students at Kolkata’s Jadavpur University while he was attending a meeting of the West Bengal College and University Professors’ Association (WBCUPA), an organisation affiliated with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). The protests erupted as students, mainly from left-aligned organisations, demanded a meeting with the Minister to discuss the delay of student union elections, which have been pending for five years. While Basu reportedly agreed to meet small delegations from left-leaning groups, the protests intensified when, apart from the Students Federation of India (SFI), no other group was willing to engage. The situation escalated with shoes being thrown at the Minister’s car, the windshield being shattered, and slogans raised. The unrest reached a peak when Basu’s car reportedly ran over a group of students, injuring one, who was rushed to the hospital.​