Kolkata: A day after rival groups of students clashed on the Jadavpur University campus over screening of Vivek Agnihotri-directed political film 'Buddha in a Traffic Jam', the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today termed the varsity as a ‘hub of anti-national elements’ and accused the Opposition CPI(M) and the varsity's Vice-Chancellor of supporting them.
"Student unrest has become a common phenomenon in JU. The screening of a film, cleared by the Censor Board, was stopped illegally. The trend of CPI(M) and Left-backed student unions of JU has been to stop anything that is against their ideology, which is totally against the country's democratic set up. We condemn it," state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh said.
"Jadavpur University is a hub of anti-nationals. Left-backed students unions are breeding ground for anti-nationals and that is why we have seen anti-India slogans being raised by a section of JU students," he alleged.
Accusing the varsity's VC of supporting anti-nationals elements on the campus, Ghosh demanded that his role be probed. "We will inform the Center of the activities going on inside the JU campus," he said.
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Rival groups of students had yesterday clashed on the varsity campus over the screening of 'Buddha in a Traffic Jam' triggering chaos during which some girls were allegedly molested and BJP actor-turned-politician Roopa Ganguly was not allowed to enter its premises.
The trouble started soon after director Vivek Agnihotri reached the campus. He was shown black flags and placards by the students of university asking him to go back. The filmmaker, on the other hand, claimed that he was manhandled and gheraoed by some students and even the glass pane of his car was left shattered in the commotion.
The agitating students said they have nothing against the screening of the film, but were protesting against the divisive content in it, which also stars Anupam Kher. "We all know Kher's views in the whole debate on whatever happened in JNU. He is acting in this film which has divisive content. We are protesting against that," Sounak Mukherjee, a first year MA student of English Department, said.
However, the authorities cancelled the screening after they learnt that the students were gathering to stage a protest. But the producers went ahead with the screening at an open-air space in the campus claiming they have support from another group of students.
Meanwhile, the varsity administration has filed a police complaint against four outsiders including 3 ABVP activists for allegedly molesting female students during the commotion. Das blamed the university alumni association for giving permission to use the Triguna Sen Auditorium for screening of the film.
“We have never given permission, nor cancelled it. The Triguna Sen Auditorium is owned and managed by the JU Alumni Association and we have no say in its running. We have no control over to whom and when they will rent the hall, or the money they will charge,” Das said.
