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Varsity vandalism: Guv says sorry to Presidency students
Tribune News Service & PTI

Kolkata, April 12
West Bengal Governor MK Narayanan on Friday apologised to students and teachers of Presidency University for the recent violence on its campus, saying he had “failed” in his responsibility.

Describing the violence as a “blot” that should never have happened, Narayanan, also the Chancellor of the university, assured students that he would work on protective measures so that such incidents do not recur and they do not have to go through the "trauma" again.

"I accept that as Governor and Chancellor, I have failed in my responsibility to you. I apologise to students of all universities of Kolkata and Bengal for what has happened," Narayanan said at an interactive session with students and teachers of the university after inspecting the historic Baker Laboratory on the varsity premises that faced the brunt of the attack.

Wednesday’s violence was carried out by alleged Trinamool Congress youth wing activists in an apparent retaliation to the heckling of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Finance Minister Alok Mitra in Delhi on Tuesday by CPM and SFI activists.

"It is unprecedented and should never have happened. It is a blot on our hopes for the future and our ambitions to make this a centre of excellence," Narayanan said.

He admitted to great lapses on the part of the police and the administration that led to criminalised vandalism inside the sacred precinct of the historic university. He also criticised the CPM’s role in the attack on the CM and other state ministers outside the Planning Commission in New Delhi and the TMC’s vandalism at Presidency University.

Alleging that the political parties were vitiating the atmosphere in academic institutions, including colleges and universities, he praised the rightful handling of the situation by vice-chancellor Malabika Sarkar.

What happened on Wednesday

The violence at Presidency University was carried out by alleged Trinamool youth wing activists

Trinamool, which denied its involvement in the trouble, found itself on the back foot with video footage aired by TV channels showing its councillor and two party activists leading protests outside the prestigious college.

Varsity V-C Malabika Sarkar confirmed the miscreants carried Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad flags

They broke gates, entered campus and beat up our students, she said