JNU row: Jadavpur University blames 'fringe elements' for raising slogans

Jadavpur University Vice-Chancellor Suranjan Das on Wednesday clarified that the students of the university had no role in the protest which raised anti-national slogans, adding that it was certain fringe elements that were behind the incident.

"Certain fringe elements raised the slogans," he said. "The entire university cannot be blamed."

Das, said: "Jadavpur University will not support any anti-national activity. I spoke to the student representatives and they have categorically stated that they do not endorse anti-national slogans. That rally was not officially convened by the students' union."

Das further stated that the Jadavpur University has a very historic background, adding that freedom of speech and right to dissent is allowed as it is a place of "all idealogies co-existing together."

"If anyone puts up any anti- India poster, the university will speak to those students. If I get a report I will act according to the university procedures," he added. 

Asserting that the university is an autonomous institution, Das said that the police should not meddle with the business of the varsity.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) earlier today sought a report from the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) Government in West Bengal over the protest by Jadavpur University students.

The ongoing protests in Delhi against the crackdown on the students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) reached Jadavpur University on Tuesday.

The students of Jadavpur University took out a torch rally on Tuesday and raised slogans against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

The students, affiliated to various Left Parties, took to the streets in Kolkata to protest the alleged police atrocities inside the JNU campus.