Kolkata, Feb 20: Slamming the West Bengal government's decision to postpone student union elections in colleges and universities for six months, the opposition Left Front Tuesday demanded immediate withdrawal of the directive.
In a letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Leader of Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra said the decision was "illogical and a poor attempt to cover up crime and shield criminals in the state".
"The decision reflects the administrative as well as political failure of the state government," said Mishra adding that the recent clash between student activists during which a policeman was killed was not an isolated incident.
In the letter he has given a list of incidents of violence that have taken place in educational institutions of the state.
Mishra also accused Trinamool Congress leaders of pressurizing the administration and said the suspension was of the elections was a social crime which would result in anarchy in the field of education.
"I hope you would reconsider your decision," Mishra said in the letter.
A sub-inspector of city police was shot dead from close range while trying to control the clashing students during filing of nomination papers in Harimohan Ghosh College in the city Feb 12.
Following the incident the state government Monday notified the suspension of students' elections.
The Congress also has slammed the decision saying it was a "flimsy excuse".
"Examinations were held in past and will continue to be held in the years to come. This cannot be an excuse for suspending student union elections. The Trinamool Congress government is unable to control the violence by its members of its own student union," state Congress general secretary Omprakash Mishra said.
