Closer to solution in Jadavpur impasse: Bengal minister

Kolkata, Jan 9 (IANS) West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee, who Friday met a section of protesting students of Jadavpur University and apprised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of the situation, said they were reaching towards a solution though it was not clear what shape it would take.

Chatterjee had a lengthy discussion with 12 students who are on an indefinite hunger strike pressing for the removal of Vice Chancellor Abhijit Chakrabarti. Chakrabarti and representatives of Jadavpur University Teachers' Association (JUTA) were also present in the meeting.

"I appeal to the students to end their hunger strike. I have heard all their views and the chief minister and chancellor (Governor K.N. Tripathi) have been informed. We are reaching towards a solution but we can't say we have found out a solution," Chatterjee told the media after meeting Banerjee.

He also stressed he was trying to rebuild trust between all parties.

According to Gitashri Sarkar, representative of the students' union of the varsity, the 12 students who met the minister will deliberate and discuss the proceedings of the meeting with other student bodies at a general body meeting.

"The 12 students have returned after the meeting. They are undergoing health checkup and the final outcome will be decided after the general body meeting at the campus tonight," Sarkar told IANS.

The students have been clamouring for Chakrabarti's removal since Sep 17 when the university authorities ordered a police crackdown on a sit-in by students who were demanding an independent investigation into the alleged molestation of a female student inside a hostel.

The incident triggered protest rallies in the city and had a ripple effect across the country, with college alumni organising protest marches in Delhi and Mumbai.

Many students also boycotted the 59th annual convocation of the university in December.

The agitation brought together the Kolkata diaspora and university alumni in solidarity through social networking websites.

Amid the clamour for his removal, Chakrabarti, who was the interim vice chancellor, was given full time responsibility by Governor Tripathi, who is the ex-officio chancellor.

The state government later instituted a five-member probe panel headed by University of Calcutta vice chancellor Suranjan Das to look into the prima facie evidence of the alleged molestation.

Two university students and an alumnus were arrested and subsequently released on bail.