No meddling in Presidency functioning, promises Mamata

Assuring that there would be no political interference in the functioning of the Presidency University, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday promised action against those who had vandalised its premises earlier.

Banerjee had constituted a mentor group comprising 10 renowned academicians from across the country - including Nobel laureate Amartya Sen as its advisor - to revive the fortunes of the renowned university, and Tuesday met its chairman Sugato Bose.

"She (Banerjee) has always maintained that Presidency is her dream project and today (Tuesday) she reiterated her assurance that there will be no political interference in the functioning of the University," Bose said.

He said the chief minister also expressed her satisfaction at the mentor group's working so far and urged it to continue the good work.

The mentor group had demanded an impartial probe into the recent vandalism of the university.

Bose said Banerjee assured it that the probe initiated by the government was heading in the right direction and the miscreants will be punished.

"She assured (us) about the impartiality of the ongoing probe and said that those responsible for the vandalism will be punished," added Bose.

The April 10 vandalism in which the historic Baker Laboratory was destroyed and some girl students molested, was allegedly carried out by activists of the Trinamool Congress' students wing.