WB Governor Dhankhar forced to leave Calcutta University Convocation due to student protests

WB Guv faces Students Protests: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar was forced to leave the Calcutta University Convocation due to students’ protests at the venue. Calcutta University had organized its annual convocation function for the outgoing students today at Nazrul Mancha at Kolkata. According to the media reports, WB Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar had to leave the venue of the convocation where the event was scheduled to be held today, following protests by students.

Governor Greeted by Anti-CAA Protests

Students started protesting at 12:30 PM today afternoon, right about the time when West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar was to reach at the convocation venue at Nazrul Mancha. Student protestors with 'No CAA' and 'No NRC' posters in hand, waved black flags and raised ‘go back slogans’ against the visit of Dhankhar, who is also the chancellor of the university.

WB Guv meets Nobel Laureate Abhijit Banerjee

Shortly after reaching the Calcutta University Convocation Venue at Nazrul Mancha, Dhankhar straight away headed to the greenroom where he met Nobel Laureate Abhijit Banerjee. Mr Banerjee was conferred Tuesday conferred honorary D Litt (honoris causa) by the Calcutta University today at the convocation function. Before leaving from the venue, WB Guv signed the D.Litt and conferred the degree to the Nobel Laureate. In a tweet sent from his official Twitter account, Dhankhar termed Abhijit Banerjee as “A man of sterling qualities and disarming grace. Greatly touched by his modest approach and depth.”

Protests Intensify at 1:30 forcing Guv to Leave

However, at around 1:30 PM in the afternoon, student protests intensify outside the convocation venue in Kolkata. Some students took the stage at the venue and chanted slogans for WB Guv to leave he venue. As per a report published by Times of India, protesters justified their outburst at the venue saying “"the (BJP- led) Centre's representative, who doesn't deserve to be on the dais for CU’s convocation ceremony. Calcutta University Vice-Chancellor Sonali Chakravarty Bandhopadhyay, tried to intervene and urged students to give-up their protests, but her appeals fell on deaf ears. To avoid any further escalation and to ensure that the programme went on smoothly, WB Governor decided to leave the venue. Last month, Dhankhar had faced similar protests at Jadavpur  University’s Convocation Function as well.