Mamata announces resignation of JU VC Abhijit Chakraborty, stalemate ends

KOLKATA: A nearly five month old impasse at the Jadavpur University (JU) came to an end on Monday, following chief minister Mamata Banerjee's announcement of vice-chancellor Abhijit Chakraborty's resignation. Banerjee made the announcement on a surprise visit to the campus.

JU students had been demanding the resignation of Chakraborty for the past five months. Caught in a gherao by the studnets, Chakraborty had some months back called the police. The police had resorted to lathicharge on the agitating students, which had made the entire students community furious. But, Chakraborty had refused to step down.

Ignoring students' demand, the government too, had confirmed his appointment last year. The academic atmosphere at the prestigious institution suffered a lot due to stalemate caused by continuous students' agitations. The students had been on a fast unto death since last week.

On Monday, the chief minister paid a sudden visit to the campus and announced that the vice-chancellor wanted to step down. Chakraborty had sent an SMS to the higher education minister Partha Chatterjee on the same. The students ended their hunger strike after Banerjee's announcement.

Mamata was accompanied by Chatterjee and another minister Arup Biswas. She visited the campus to meet the ailing students who were on fast. But, her sudden announcement about VC's resignation stunned everyone, including the agitating students, teachers and guardians, many of whom went for a token hunger strike to express solidarity with the agitating students.