West Bengal governor M.K. Narayanan apologised to the students of Presidency University, stating that he had “failed its students by not being able to protect them from violence on campus”. Mr Narayanan, who is also the Chancellor of the university, apologised more than once to the students and regretted failing to prevent the vandalism of Baker Laboratory. He said the incident was a “blot on our hopes for the future”.
Addressing the students, he said he was not in the college to blame any political party but to provide support to the students. “At the outset I wish to apologise to students of all universities of Kolkata and Bengal for what has happened. It is unprecedented and should never have happened. I accept that as a governor and chancellor I have failed in my responsibility,” Mr Narayanan said. However, he added that “others, too, have to share the blame”.
Expressing concern about the safety of the girl students, Mr Narayanan elaborated, “We believed Bengal was the safest place for girls and women but I do not know what has happened to the culture... Being chancellor I want to share the pain you have suffered. I hope my presence brings some solace to you.” He added: “I will wait for what the police investigation reveals ... how the goons entered the university premises. For the next few weeks I will try to put in place a mechanism so that you do not undergo such a trauma,” he said.
“I will concentrate (on) how protective measures can be put in place and what can be done to assure the students that it will not recur,” Mr Narayanan stressed, adding, “My only request to students is to call for more police presence on the campus for better protection.”
Answering a student’s concern about the pro-activeness of the police in favour of the state government, Mr Narayanan said, “Even the worst policeman on the street is a bulwark against vandalism. You cannot condemn every policeman. Please try to have some degree of faith in the institution of governance.”
Significantly, expressing his views about the denial of the Trinamul Congress that its members were involved, the governor said, “This is usually the practice. The political party that is involved in it is denying it... I owe it to you and I am great admirer of the university...”