'Stir' leads Gour Banga VC to resign

MALDA: In the face of alleged stir by Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), Chhatra Parishad (CP), and Trinamool-backed academics, the vice-chancellor of Gour Banga University (GBU), Gopa Dutta, resigned from the post on Wednesday. Though Dutta cited ill health as the reason but TMCP and CP supporters are viewing this as their 'success'.
Malda academic circle was stirred with the news of Gopa Dutta resigning from the post of Vice Chancellor of University of Gour Banga.In fact, the agitation from Trinamool Chhatra Parishad, Chhatra Parishad and TMC backed academicians forced her to leave the job much ahead of her schedule. Although Dutta cited her ailing health as the factor behind her resignation, TMCP and CP sees this as their 'success'. It may be recalled that two months back registrar Apurba Chakraborty had to resign from his post on the face of assault by TMCP members.
Dutta took over as VC in 2009, after Surabhi Banerjee. It was due to her initiative that the university got its own campus beside NH-34 on the outskirts of the Malda town. Apart from opening the new departments including science, it was during Dutta's tenure that Indian History Congress was held at the university. This was certainly a great achievement for the new university.
With the change of guards in the state, there was mounting pressure from Trinamool to change the executive council (EC). was mounting on changing the Executive Council.
Trinamool-backed academics and TMCP supporters led several deputations alleging abused Dutta over number of issues. They alleged that Dutta backed the old EC to carry on her whimsover the university. Recently the Executive Council was also formed in the university but that too drew controversy as number of aspirants from Malda did not find their places in the EC.
With news of her resignation on Wednesday, CP leader Babul Sk said, "We are happy she is going and it is the result of our movement. She was running the university on her whims.
She was involved in financial irregularities also." TMCP leader Santanu Saha too saw it as their victory. TMC backed academicians like Prodyot Ghosh, Somsankar Sinha and others welcomed the decision.
However, CP leader Prosenjit Das could not echo his partymen while saying, "It is unfortunate that Dutta is going in such a time the university begins a new journey." SFI district secretary Animesh Sinha said, "For days, TMCP and CP have been insulting her. They were creating all the hindrances on her way of acting. But her resignation will certainly affect the proceedings of university."
Dutta, however, denied of any political pressure. She said, "Owing to my ailing health, I wrote to the government on January 5 to release me." However, no intimation from the govt is yet to reach her.