Presidency violence: Guv reaches out to students to 'apologise'

Says may have to go beyond 'constitutional responsibilities' to ensure safety

Days after members of the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) — the student wing of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) — ransacked the Presidency University campus here, West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan on Friday apologised to the students of the university in an open house session at the campus.

During the interaction at the university's Derozio hall, Narayanan, who is also the chancellor of the university, said: “I apologise to students of all universities in Kolkata and Bengal for what has happened...As governor and chancellor, I have failed in my responsibility to you.”

“I would like to work with the police to ensure this doesn't occur again. It might be beyond the constitutional responsibilities of a governor. Others should share the blame," he added.

He took questions from students during the interactive session, which took place in a few hours notice.

As students pointed out to the ruling Trinamool Congress’ denial in accepting the act of vandalism by its students’ wing, Narayanan said, “Politics in the country has become much coarser over the years. There has been a tendency to slide back as far as political elements are concerned. This unwillingness to acknowledge the truth is one of the major fault lines. This is what happened in the assault of our ministers in Delhi, which, too, was denied by the party.”

The governor also told the students they have an “outstanding” vice-chancellor in Malabika Sarkar. Incidentally, Sarkar had participated in the students' protest on Thursday, a move criticised by TMC leaders.

Slamming Sarkar for speaking to the media, TMC leader Subrata Mukherjee had said, “Everybody knows her (Sarkar) history, geography and science.”

Meanwhile, police on Friday made three more arrest in connection to the case. “We have arrested three more persons. A total of five persons have been arrested,” said Joint Commissioner of Police Javed Shamim.

None of the five arrested are students of the university. Police, however, did not comment on the political affiliations of these persons.