BJP to seek NCW intervention in Jadavpur varsity case

The BJP's Lok Sabha member Meenakshi Lekhi Sunday condemned the alleged sexual harassment of a Jadavpur University student and the subsequent police crackdown on demonstrating pupils, and said she will seek the intervention of the National Commission for Women (NCW) in the matter.

Many students were injured after police allegedly beat them up Wednesday for laying siege to Vice Chancellor Abhijit Chakrabarty's office, seeking a fresh inquiry into the purported sexual harassment of a woman student.

Addressing an event organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party's legal cell here, Lekhi said the Calcutta High Court should take suo motu cognizance of the alleged sexual harassment and initiate a probe.

"I will write to the NCW and inform the commission about the mismanagement at the university concerning the safety and security of women. I want justice for the students through an independent judicial inquiry. The high court should take suo motu cognizance and initiate a probe," she said.

Condemning university officials for inaction in the case in which a second-year history student was allegedly dragged into the boys' hostel and molested last month, Lekhi said women lawyers could also file a writ petition at the high court for a probe.

"It was shocking to see that the university neither took action against the molesters nor asked police to intervene, which forced the students to agitate. And to make it worse, police and goons were unleashed on the students who got beaten up badly," she said.

Expressing solidarity with the students who are seeking Chakrabarty's removal, Lekhi called for action against the vice chancellor for "questioning the character of the victim".

"Under this government, 'goondaraj' is prevailing everywhere," she added.

Both the BJP and the Congress have demanded a judicial probe into the alleged police assault.

A delegation of students Saturday met Bengal Governor and university Chancellor K.N. Tripathi to put forward their demands, which include an independent probe into the alleged molestation as well as removal of the vice chancellor.