Union Minister Babul Supriyo was allegedly heckled by a section of students of Jadavpur University during his visit to the campus to attend an event organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Thursday.

The BJP leader was surrounded by several slogan-shouting protesters belonging to the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and AISA (All India Students Association) who refused to let him enter the campus.

He was headed to the KP Basu Memorial Hall where a freshers’ welcome programme was scheduled.

“Babul Supriyo go back, go back”, they shouted as the Asansol MP’s bodyguards tried to throw a security ring around him.

Students holding red flags pushed and shoved Supriyo. His shirt was allegedly torn and his hair pulled.

The minister, who refused to go out of the campus despite the aggressive crowd, was brought out by West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who drove to the spot.

The Vice-Chancellor tried to reason with students and requested Supriyo to come to his chamber.

Babul Supriyo on Friday morning tweeted on the incident slamming the Mamata Banerjee government.

“You have no words to utter for six hours or no administrative action from Mamta Governnet.. Your dirty politics have overpowered your logic. I pity you. FYI, if the Vice Chancellor wanted, the situation would have been under control at 3 pm before your #SFI (Students Federation of India, linked to the Left) hooligans started it. AVBP had Jadavpur University registrar’s permission to do the event (sic),” Supriyo tweeted.

The ruling Trinamool Congress termed the Governor’s rescue attempt as “unfortunate and shocking” and said that the Governor had gone to the campus without informing the elected government.

The TMC claimed that Babul Supriyo had gone to Jadavpur University to attend an ABVP program without informing the government.

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, reacting on the TMC statement, said that it is “unfortunate that the party has stated that he did not inform government and had not taken it into confidence before visiting Jadavpur University” while terming the claims as “factually incorrect”.

“The issue of serious lapses by the Jadavpur University VC, including virtual abandonment of his obligations and the apparent failure of the State Police Administration in attending to the situations appropriately and inadequate security arrangements for the Governor/Chancellor during his visit are receiving his attention for forward steps,” the Governor said in a statement.