Now CPI-M demands Sugato Bose's removal from Presidency group

Kolkata, March 29 (IANS) The CPI-M Saturday said educationist Sugata Bose, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls as a Trinamool Congress candidate, should step down from the chairmanship of the Presidency University Mentor Group.

A day after Bose lost a referendum by students seeking his removal, Communist Party of India-Marxist state secretary Biman Bose said the Harvard University professor who raised his voice against politicisation of education, should practice what he preached.

"As the head of the mentor group, he has been raising his voice against the politicisation of education, so how can he do something which is diametrically opposite of what he has been preaching. Either he should pursue politics or head the mentor group," said the veteran Marxist.

He also rejected West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu's contention that if the prime minister can be the chancellor of universities, why Sugato Bose can't continue with his task with the premier education institute.

"The minister's contention is totally wrong. As a chancellor, the PM doesn't take policy decisions, but as the head of the mentor group, Bose has been entrusted with taking policy decisions. So, for the sake of the students, he should step down," added Bose.

Describing the varsity students referendum as "unconstitutional", Bratya Basu has been advocating the Harvard professor continue as a part of the mentor group which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had set up with Nobel laureate Amartya Sen as its advisor to revive the fortunes of the renowned University.

Earlier in the day, Trinamool Chhatra Parishad - Trinamool's students' wing - had lodged a complaint with the Election Commission contending that the referendum was a violation of the poll model code of conduct.