WB Guv Dhankhar heckled twice at Jadavpur University by students protesting CAA, NRC

West Bengal Goverr Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday was heckled and shown black flags twice at  Javpur University, a hotbed of anti-CAA protests, a day after he declared as "illegal and invalid" varsity's decision to defer December 24 special convocation because of possible trouble. students threatened to protest again t to take degrees from him if Dhankhar visits campus at Tuesday's annual convocation, where his presence was t required by statute of institute.

Protesting against goverr's stand on proposed nationwide NRC and  Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), students surrounded his car, shouted slogans and showed him black flags when he arrived at university around 2 pm to attend a meeting of university Court, its highest decision-making body. Dhankhar was heckled again when he was leaving university around 2 hours later without attending meeting due to presence of a large number of protesting students separating room where he h been seated and one where meeting was going on, officials said.

goverr was stuck amid chaos for around 30 minutes each time due to protests by CPI(M)-backed SFI, Arts Faculty Students Union (AFSU), AISA and Faculty of Engineering and Techlogy Students Union (FETSU). "After he could t attend Court meeting due to agitation by stakeholders including students and n-teaching staff, hon'ble Chancellor called me up requesting me to hold meeting at Raj Bhavan," Vice-Chancellor Suranjan Das told reporters later.

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But  Court members unanimously decided that meeting should t be shifted elsewhere as it h alrey started at JU campus, VC said. Earlier, Das h intervened when goverr was stopped near university's gate by students and he was escorted to venue of meeting at Aurobindo Bhavan.

When protesters blocked his way again when he was leaving, Dhankhar said he h a hunch that he would face protests but still decided to visit campus to find a way out of impasse over cancellation of special convocation in which horary doctoral degrees would be conferred to eminent personalities. "I do t want your careers to be affected due to situation. I came here to discuss with you and find a way out," he said as 300 students gheraoed him at stairs of Aurobindo Bhavan.

When students questioned him on police action at  Jamia Millia Islamia campus in Delhi, Dhankhar said he is goverr of West Bengal and can answer queries about this state only. Stating that he believes in automy of educational institutes and does t work at behest of any political party, Dhankhar told m that he will be gl to sit and discuss ir issues.

university's Executive Council (EC) h on Saturday decided t to hold special convocation in view of threat of students' bodies to show black flag to him. JU authorities said it will only hold annual ceremony in which only students will be awarded degrees and certificates. Chancellor's presence is t required in it.

After  Court meeting, vice-chancellor said convocation will be held as scheduled on Tuesday morning. About letter of goverr questioning legality of EC's decision, he said, "As per statute,  Court approves EC resolution of cancelling special convocation and holding annual convocation on December 24." He said  Court ted "with heavy heart" some observations of  Chancellor about university and higher education in state, and terming EC's annual convocation decision as illegal in his letter." "Let me iterate that as per statute, decision by EC is valid and all degrees to be awarded to students and researchers are valid," vice-chancellor said.

To a question, he said "If chancellor comes, he will preside over convocation and if he presides, he will also speak." Asked wher re would be police arrangements to ensure protest is held during convocation, Das said "We never call police inside campus. But our own security arrangements will be re." AFSU member Gitasree said, "We will t boycott annual Convocation in interest of students. But we will certainly protest if  Chancellor again visits tomorrow. We will t take degrees from him. We hope varsity will t commit such an act."

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