The Crossbill Team
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s lecture at Kellogg College, University of Oxford, was met with stiff resistance from the Students’ Federation of India-United Kingdom (SFI-UK), as student protesters confronted her over issues ranging from investment opportunities in the state to the controversial RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case in Kolkata.
Delivering a speech on "Social Development – Girl, Child, and Women Empowerment in West Bengal" before an audience of around 200 people, Banerjee found herself at the center of a storm when several students were reportedly denied entry into the venue.
The tension escalated as SFI-UK began protesting at the venue, aiming to expose what they claimed were the Chief Minister’s blatant lies. The students accused the organizers of deliberately ensuring that the audience was dominated by Trinamool Congress supporters and business figures sympathetic to the ruling party, effectively sidelining critical voices.
“SFI-UK held a demonstration in Kellogg College, Oxford against Mamata Banerjee's speech. We opposed her blatant lies by asking her for evidence of the social development she claims to pioneer. Instead of allowing us to peacefully express our opinions, the police were called,” SFI-UK stated in a post on X, taking responsibility for the protests.
Mayukh Biswas, General Secretary of SFI India, echoed these concerns, alleging that genuine students were deliberately excluded from the event.
“Students were not actually allowed into the venue. A few SFI students used the emergency exit to crash into the venue to make sure they get a chance to counter West Bengal CM's lies,” The Telegraph Online quoted him as saying.
“It was a show of Trinamool's intolerance towards questions and criticism, but SFI-UK will continue to uphold the rights of the students and the larger ideological vision,” he added.
As Banerjee detailed her government’s achievements in women’s empowerment and investment, an audience member confronted her with questions about the RG Kar Medical College case.
The heated exchange saw a protester accusing her, “You killed Abhaya.”
Remaining composed, the Chief Minister said, “I don’t mind, please raise your voice. This is a democracy. I will listen carefully.”
She further clarified, “Do you know the case is subjudice? The central government has taken over, the case is no longer with us.”
The disruptions continued as another protester questioned the treatment of Hindus in Bengal.
In response, Banerjee claimed, “I am for all, Hindus and Muslims,” before chants of “Go back” erupted from a section of the audience.
A visibly frustrated Banerjee urged for an opportunity to speak, telling the protesters, “You should give me a chance to speak. You are not insulting me; you are disrespecting your institution.”
As tensions soared, the Chief Minister resorted to a dramatic gesture by pulling out a poster-sized image of herself from the 1990s, showing her with a bandaged head, referencing an attack she had suffered in the past.
“First, see my picture, how an attempt was made to kill me,” she told the crowd. She reiterated the same image when questioned about the Tata Group’s withdrawal from West Bengal, citing it as evidence of her long political struggle.
The protestors, holding posters and raising slogans, remained relentless, also bringing up the Jadavpur University incident.
Banerjee refuted the allegations, saying, “You are lying. I have special affection for you, but don’t try to make this political. If you want to make it political, go to Bengal and tell your party to strengthen itself so that it can fight with us.”
SFI-UK had earlier submitted a letter to the college administration, arguing against Banerjee’s invitation and questioning her credentials as a speaker.
“The college clearly neglected and not even acknowledged the letter of SFI UK and their concerns. SFI submitted facts and figures and not imaginations. So, the politics was evident. It was a well-calculated to boost the image of Mamata on her London visit,” the student organization stated.
Despite the interruptions, Banerjee carried on with her address, directing her focus toward the dignitaries in attendance and discussing her cordial relations with Oxford academics. As she neared the end of her speech, she took a dig at the protesters, referring to them as her “ultra-left friends” and saying, “I love that you’ve fulfilled your agenda. My best wishes to you. Have a good sleep.”
With a grin, she concluded, “Didi walks like a royal Bengal tiger. If you can catch me, catch me.”
Delivering a speech on "Social Development – Girl, Child, and Women Empowerment in West Bengal" before an audience of around 200 people, Banerjee found herself at the center of a storm when several students were reportedly denied entry into the venue.
The tension escalated as SFI-UK began protesting at the venue, aiming to expose what they claimed were the Chief Minister’s blatant lies. The students accused the organizers of deliberately ensuring that the audience was dominated by Trinamool Congress supporters and business figures sympathetic to the ruling party, effectively sidelining critical voices.
“SFI-UK held a demonstration in Kellogg College, Oxford against Mamata Banerjee's speech. We opposed her blatant lies by asking her for evidence of the social development she claims to pioneer. Instead of allowing us to peacefully express our opinions, the police were called,” SFI-UK stated in a post on X, taking responsibility for the protests.
SFI-UK held a demonstration in Kellogg College, Oxford against Mamata Banerjee's speech. We opposed her blatant lies by asking her for evidence of the social development she claims to pioneer. Instead of allowing us to peacefully express our opinions, the police were called. pic.twitter.com/pj0WRpvZUa
— Students' Federation of India - United Kingdom (@sfi_uk) March 27, 2025
Mayukh Biswas, General Secretary of SFI India, echoed these concerns, alleging that genuine students were deliberately excluded from the event.
“Students were not actually allowed into the venue. A few SFI students used the emergency exit to crash into the venue to make sure they get a chance to counter West Bengal CM's lies,” The Telegraph Online quoted him as saying.
“It was a show of Trinamool's intolerance towards questions and criticism, but SFI-UK will continue to uphold the rights of the students and the larger ideological vision,” he added.
As Banerjee detailed her government’s achievements in women’s empowerment and investment, an audience member confronted her with questions about the RG Kar Medical College case.
The heated exchange saw a protester accusing her, “You killed Abhaya.”
Remaining composed, the Chief Minister said, “I don’t mind, please raise your voice. This is a democracy. I will listen carefully.”
She further clarified, “Do you know the case is subjudice? The central government has taken over, the case is no longer with us.”
The disruptions continued as another protester questioned the treatment of Hindus in Bengal.
In response, Banerjee claimed, “I am for all, Hindus and Muslims,” before chants of “Go back” erupted from a section of the audience.
A visibly frustrated Banerjee urged for an opportunity to speak, telling the protesters, “You should give me a chance to speak. You are not insulting me; you are disrespecting your institution.”
As tensions soared, the Chief Minister resorted to a dramatic gesture by pulling out a poster-sized image of herself from the 1990s, showing her with a bandaged head, referencing an attack she had suffered in the past.
“First, see my picture, how an attempt was made to kill me,” she told the crowd. She reiterated the same image when questioned about the Tata Group’s withdrawal from West Bengal, citing it as evidence of her long political struggle.
The protestors, holding posters and raising slogans, remained relentless, also bringing up the Jadavpur University incident.
Banerjee refuted the allegations, saying, “You are lying. I have special affection for you, but don’t try to make this political. If you want to make it political, go to Bengal and tell your party to strengthen itself so that it can fight with us.”
SFI-UK had earlier submitted a letter to the college administration, arguing against Banerjee’s invitation and questioning her credentials as a speaker.
“The college clearly neglected and not even acknowledged the letter of SFI UK and their concerns. SFI submitted facts and figures and not imaginations. So, the politics was evident. It was a well-calculated to boost the image of Mamata on her London visit,” the student organization stated.
Despite the interruptions, Banerjee carried on with her address, directing her focus toward the dignitaries in attendance and discussing her cordial relations with Oxford academics. As she neared the end of her speech, she took a dig at the protesters, referring to them as her “ultra-left friends” and saying, “I love that you’ve fulfilled your agenda. My best wishes to you. Have a good sleep.”
With a grin, she concluded, “Didi walks like a royal Bengal tiger. If you can catch me, catch me.”
Comments (0)
Leave a Comment