Minister visits Jadavpur molestation victim, faces criticism
Kolkata, Sep 21 (IANS) Amid the raging controversy over the alleged molestation of a Jadavpur University female student, West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee Sunday met the victim at her residence here.
"He (Chatterjee) came to visit my daughter. He stayed here for around 20 minutes," said the victim's father.
Chatterjee's visit, however, has come under fire from certain quarters following his decision to take along Shankudeb Panda, the chief of Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), student wing of the Trinamool Congress.
The TMCP has called a rally Monday to protest against the demonstration organised by the university students seeking an independent probe into the alleged molestation of the student as well as removal of vice-chancellor Abhijit Chakrabarty.
Many students were injured when police allegedly beat them up Wednesday for laying siege to Chakrabarty's office, seeking a fresh inquiry.
"Besides making a delayed visit, the education minister has sent a wrong signal by taking along Panda. Chatterjee should have instead used the opportunity to resolve the impasse by taking along some of the students who have been demonstrating," said Amol Mukhopadhyay, former principal of Presidency College.
Echoing similar views, actor Badshah Moitra said: "He has already denied that police have baton-charged the students and now he has taken along Panda. Perhaps he should remember he isn't a Trinamool Congress minister but a minister of the entire student fraternity."
Eminent painter Samir Aich too criticised Chatterjee for the move.
The education minister later went to Raj Bhavan and met Governor, and University Chancellor, K.N. Tripathi.
A delegation of Jadavpur University students Saturday met Tripathi to put forth their demands, including removal of Chakrabarty and an independent probe in the molestation case.