JAWAHARLAL Nehru University (JNU) has experienced sounds of jackboots. People with democratic and secular values in the entire country joined hands in protest against the agenda of saffronisation. Kolkata and Bengal was no exception to that. Jadavpur University (JU), noted centre of excellence of the state, also became a venue of the protest. For that, the premier institution is also facing the wrath of the saffron brigade.

The teachers’ association of JU, JUTA in their meeting held on February 16 condemned of the arrest and detention of JNU students’ union president Kanhaiya Kumar. JUTA unequivocally stood by the teachers of JNU in demanding the immediate release of Kanhaiya Kumar. JUTA strongly condemned the heinous attempt of demonising JNU and tarnishing its bright and excellent academic contribution. The students of the University took part in a rally on February 16, 2016 as a mark of protest against the arrest of Kanhaiya Kumar. The rally gave a call to stand in solidarity with the united fight against the saffron agenda in the country, especially in JNU. According to some media reports, slogans against the hanging of Afzal Guru were raised by some people taking part in that rally. The official students’ unions of JU though claimed through media that it was done by some “fringe elements”.

The muscle flexing of saffron brigade started from that point only. On February 17, JU witnessed an ugly scene of violent intimidation on its campus by ABVP and its around hundred supporters. They claimed themselves as insiders of JU and shouting slogans declaring they won’t support ‘anti-nationalists’, they went on a rampage – tore, kicked and destroyed the posters and hoardings along their way. 

On that very date, former BJP state president Rahul Sinha hailed the BJP leader OP Sharma for beating ‘anti-nationalists’ at the Patiala House court premises in the national capital and said further that JU students have to be beaten up and taught lessons on ‘nationalism.’ The students and youth wings of the BJP called a rally next day on February 18 from Golpark of South Kolkata to JU. Students of JU gathered in huge number in the campus, the teachers formed a human chain at the gate and finally the rally was stopped by the police close by the university. Since then intimidatory remarks have not stopped, rather they have been intensified by the saffron brigade. The BJP leaders are imposing pressure on the vice chancellor to take action against the students and the teachers for ‘anti-nationalist’ activities. The JU VC has unequivocally said he believes in freedom of expression and said that the students of the university had no role in the protest which raised anti-national slogans, adding that it was certain fringe elements. He never supported the slogans raised by few people in the students’ rally but strongly said the entire university can’t be defamed for that. He firmly said that JU, being an autonomous body, will only abide by its Act. This firm stand of the vice chancellor has made him the soft target of the saffron brigade.

With increasing attacks on the democratic fabric, the protests have also intensified. Thousands of people took part in a rally on February 21 to protest against the strong nationalist refrain by the BJP and RSS. The rally also protested against the TMC’s silence on the entire matter and called it as another evidence of tacit understanding between the BJP and the TMC. The rally was convened by Left parties. Biman Basu, Surjyakanta Mishra and other Left leadership led the spontaneous rally.  

People from all walks of life are taking part in the protest against parochial nationalism of the saffron brigade. The rallies in solidarity with JNU and JU are only increasing. Almost all the secular and democratic forces of the state have raised their voice against the attacks on JNU and JU. But the chief minister is totally mum. She or her party has said nothing against what has happened in JNU and nor have they commented on the attack on JU, the premier educational institution of the state. It clearly shows the tacit understanding between the BJP and Mamata Banerjee’s party. The BJP is fanatically playing nationalist card against JU, their similar ploy as they played in the case of JNU but to the utter surprise of the people of Bengal, the BJP hardly said anything anti-national when the police had to arrest the Trinamool student leader and general secretary of a college in south Kolkata for his alleged links to the Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and when intelligence agencies claimed Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP has close connection with top leaders of Bangladesh-based Jamaat-e-Islami, previously known as Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. The nationalist pride of the BJP never stumbled to coordinate floor in the upper house with such a party. BJP’s parochial stand in Bengal, many opine, is to provide oxygen to Mamata Banerjee – so that communal considerations overrule reason in the forth coming election. The unholy nexus between these two parties is based on give and take and the mum TMC has unmasked its stand on BJP as well as its ideological bankruptcy. On one hand the conscience of the entire country is voicing against the attempts of saffron attack on the best intellectual hubs including JNU and JU; on the other hand it is also high time to expose the opportunist forces like the TMC and defeat them.

In the meanwhile, the police lathi-charged SFI activists on February 23 in the Burdwan University campus in Bengal. The students were in movement for transparency in examination system. Brutal lathi-charge was organised against them; even the girl students were not spared. The BJP and the TMC share the same mentality of sending police into the educational institutions to gag dissent. The tacit understanding between the BJP and Mamata Banerjee’s party is not only becoming evident but it is also unveiling that these two parties are made for each other.