West Bengal Minister Bratya Basu today condemned the continued gherao of the VC, pro-VC and registrar of the Jadavpur University, describing it as "inhuman," and asked the students to desist from such a path and talk to the authorities.
"We strongly disapprove of ragging in educational institutions and this will never be tolerated under any circumstances," Basu said asking the students to lift the gherao.
The VC, pro-VC and the registrar of the prestigious university are under a gherao since Wednesday afternoon by a section of students who are demanding lifting of suspension of two fourth year engineering students charged with ragging a junior student.
The minister said gossip and 'addas' (pep talk) could be held with newcomers in the institutes by seniors, "but if that reaches the level of physical torture and assaults and to some extent driving the victims to commit suicide even, that becomes very very serious".
Asked for his comment on the student leaders' claim that there was no case of ragging against the two students, the minister said, "The issue should be left to the university authorities."
"The university authority is the final authority to take a decision on the issue. They must have been convinced about it (case of ragging) and took the decision," he said.
