Visva-Bharati case: BJP leader Dilip Ghosh demands intervention by central agency

Trouble erupted at the Visva-Bharati campus in West Bengal on Monday (August 17) as large number of people scoured the university's property protesting the construction of a boundary wall at the Poush Mela ground. Dilip Ghosh took the state government and ruling party to court. He demanded the intervention of a central agency.  

Kolkata: Violent protests broke out in the Visva Bharati campus in West Bengal’s Birbhum district on Monday (August 17) against the university’s decision to construct a boundary wall in an adjoining open ground where the Poush Mela is held. BJP state president Dilip Ghosh hit out at the state government. He asked, “When the work of fencing the university land is going on by the direction of the court, then what right does the Trinamool have in obstructing the work?’’

Authorities have decided to construct a boundary wall at the Visva-Bharati fairground. Work was going on in full swing. Over the last few days, authorities were worried over the decision of constructing a boundary wall in the adjoining open ground where Poush Mela is held.

Meanwhile, some alumni were allegedly harassed by Visva-Bharati security guards on Sunday (August 16). As a result, the situation became more volatile. On Monday morning (August 17), a procession of protest was taken out from Bolpur post office. Tens of thousands of people joined the protest.

Although there was no flag of any political party, Trinamool MLA from Dubrajpur Naresh Baury, Bolpur councilor Sheikh Omar and many others were at the forefront of the protest. When the procession reached the Visva-Bharati fairground, the protesters started vandalising the area indiscriminately. Building materials were smashed to pieces. The local lighthouses at the fairgrounds were vandalised. Soon after the incident, the authorities decided to close Visva-Bharati for security reasons.

BJP state president Dilip Ghosh returned to Kolkata from Delhi on Tuesday (August 18). He said, “State universities have become Trinamool party offices. The vice-chancellors are openly participating in political activities. What happened in Visva-Bharati needs immediate central investigation.” “Lands of Visva-Bharati are being conquered by goons of the ruling party. Shops are running in that land. Local Trinamool leaders are taking money from the shop owners.” he further added.