On Monday, activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), called for a strike in the campuses of universities in West Bengal, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Bratya Basu. The strike began after the controversial incident at Jadavpur University on March 1, in which two students were injured after being hit by a car from the minister's convoy.

It was reported that leftist student organizations had prevented the minister from leaving the campus demanding a discussion on the student union elections. During this, the protesters broke the glass of the minister's car, due to which the minister got injured.

On Monday, the campuses of Jadavpur and Presidency universities in Kolkata wore a deserted look as SFI activists gathered to participate in the strike that began at 10 am. Both these universities witnessed a massive absence of students and teachers. Other universities like Kolkata University, Rabindra Bharati University, North Bengal University and Burdwan University witnessed partial impact, with some classes cancelled but semester exams held as scheduled.

The number of SFI workers was relatively less in these universities. At the same time, workers of Trinamool Congress (TMC) student organization Trinamool Chhatra Parishad were also present in the university campuses. The movement of vehicles was not affected due to the strike and school students reached their examination centers without any problem. West Bengal Board's 12th class examinations also started on Monday.

SFI state committee member Shuvajit Sarkar alleged that outside elements associated with TMC had instigated violence and vandalism in the Jadavpur University campus. He also said that the students had tried to talk to the minister only on education related issues. But the minister behaved rudely with the students and tried to leave the campus in anger.

Shuvajit Sarkar said that two students have been injured because of Basu. We demand his resignation. We also demand police action against him for inciting the situation in the Jadavpur University campus.