After Months of Controversy at Bengal University, Mamata Banerjee Steps in: 10 Developments

Protests for the past four months at the university, had peaked today as several parents joined a hunger strike by students to press for Vice Chancellor Avijit Chakraborty's removal.

"The Vice Chancellor has been asked to step down. He has forwarded his resignation letter," the Chief Minister announced this evening to a roar of applause and cheers from students,

"I was concerned about the future of the youth and students. No academic activity was happening at Jadavpur University for four months," Ms Banerjee said.

Some 17 students have been on a protest fast and a third-year student was rushed to hospital on Friday after he fainted on campus.

In a show of solidarity, several parents sat on a 12-hour fast today at the campus gate.

Even parents of students not on strike joined in. "My two daughters are not on hunger strike. So what? I am a parent. All the students are my children," said Ashish Banerjee.

Students have been demanding the Vice Chancellor's resignation since September 17, when he called in the police to help end a protest over a student's molestation, allegedly by seniors.

As students demanded action in the case and surrounded the Vice Chancellor's office in the university's administrative building, Mr Chakraborty called in the police to get him out.

The police forcibly removed the students, allegedly dragging them and beating them. Some students were injured in the late night clash.

The incident led to massive public outrage. At the university's convocation on December 24, a student expressed protest by refusing to accept her medal for best all-rounder from the Governor, who is also the university's Chancellor.