Everyone has right to protest, says West Bengal Governor after TMCP supporters show black flags

West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Thursday faced protests by the students’ wing of Trinamool Congress outside the Calcutta University. The members of Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) waved black flags to the Governor.

“Everyone has the right to protest. They have to choose which way they want to,” the Governor said when asked about the protests. The Governor visited Calcutta University to award certificates to students.

The student wing of Trinamool Congress was protesting over an irregular way of deciding to hold the award ceremony by the University of Calcutta authorities. Since the university does not have a permanent Vice-Chancellor it cannot hold convocation.

“Those protesting are not university students but outsiders. The Hon’ble High Court had itself paved the way for our certificate and diploma awarding ceremony and we went ahead with the function inviting the Chancellor,” officiating Vice-Chancellor of University of Calcutta said.

The protests come at a time when the West Bengal government and the Raj Bhavan are at the loggerheads over several issues including the rape and murder of a doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Speaking at the event, the Governor said that change of political parties in power should not affect the functioning of universities. “Political parties come and go, but universities should go on forever,” he said.

Later the Governor expressed concern about the “growing incidents of starvation”. “It is the responsibility of any civilised society and government to stop such incidents,” he said. The Governor was referring to the death of a migrant worker from West Bengal in Chennai, who allegedly died of starvation.