Hundreds of students laid siege to Presidency University on Friday, not allowing any officials and faculty members to enter the varsity. The siege was a protest against the suspension of the students’ union election which was earlier scheduled on this day. The authorities had to suspend the election process after the state government issued a notification in wake of the Garden Reach incident, citing campus violence over students’ union elections.
The members of Independent Consolidation (IC) laid siege to the varsity’s main gate barring the officials from enter the premises. According to one of the IC members, Presidency being an autonomous institution, the state government has no authority to suspend the election process. “The university had failed to hold the election process for the last two years. This year, everyone was looking forward to the election.” Another IC member alleged that the motive of the ruling party was to make a base for its students’ wing which hardly has any presence in the varsity. The protest went on till 3.30 pm.
Dean of students Deboshruti Roy Chowdhury said, “The students wanted the authorities to conduct the election proce-ss, but it had to be suspended as per the state government’s order.”