West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday (September 10) turned the Assembly into a platform for a wide-ranging attack on the CPI(M), the Left and sections of the academic community, as he defended the state government’s move to introduce inter-university transfers for employees.

Speaking during the debate on the West Bengal Universities and Colleges (Administration and Regulation) Amendment Bill, Adhikari mocked Left-leaning employees opposed to transfers, targeted the CPI(M)’s use of ‘Sharodotsav’ (Autumn Festival) instead of ‘Durga Puja’, and warned those invoking “Kishenji” and “Free Palestine” that his government would respond in the language of Subhas Chandra Bose.

“If you don’t like your transfer order, there is a way out. You can quit the job and become a party wholetimer with a “jhola” (bag) on your shoulder and sell Ganashakti,” he said, referring to the CPI(M) mouthpiece in West Bengal.

The Bill, which will empower the state government to transfer employees from one university to another, has drawn opposition from several teachers’ associations and academics. Defending the provision, Adhikari said experienced teachers could be moved to institutions in places such as Jhargram and Cooch Behar to facilitate an exchange of human resources between universities.

He also used the debate to attack the Left’s terminology around Durga Puja.

“I would like to urge Puja committees to allow CPI(M) to set up Marxist book stalls with ‘Durga Puja’ written on the banner, instead of ‘Sharodotsav’,” he added.

Continuing his attack on the Left, he said, “If you write ‘Red Salute to Kishenji’ or ‘Free Palestine’, we will answer you in Subhas Chandra Bose’s language, not Gandhiji’s.”

Saying it was “high time to uproot Naxal and similar Left forces”, Adhikari also targeted faculty members at Jadavpur University.

“You believe in an equal society. We are trying to equal universities. We are trying to send good intellectuals to weak universities. What is wrong in that?” he asked.

Adhikari also brought up the 1970 murder of former Jadavpur University vice-chancellor Gopal Sen, saying the government would set up a panel to investigate the incident, if necessary.

The chief minister then shifted his focus to the electoral battlefield, claiming that the Opposition’s defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections was rooted in what he termed “disrespect” for the saffron colour. He predicted that the Opposition would meet a similar fate in the upcoming by-elections.

The speech also touched on the controversy surrounding Bageshwar Dham chief priest Dhirendra Krishna Shastri. Adhikari directed the Kolkata police commissioner to arrest those who allegedly burnt Shastri’s photographs following his remarks urging people not to cook or consume fish and meat during Durga Puja.

Shastri had triggered protests and anger across the state after calling those who ignored his appeal “pakhandi” (fraudulent). Critics accused him of attacking Bengali identity and culture.

Defending Shastri’s right to express his views, Adhikari said that a religious leader can express his opinion about his own beliefs, traditions, and culture. “Those who accept it will do so. He did not want to impose it on anyone.”

But he said burning photographs in response would not be tolerated.

“I saw how many people burned pictures in front of the police station in Bhavanipur. I am telling the CP from here that those people must be arrested. This will not happen in this state,” he stated.

Adhikari also took a swipe at the Trinamool Congress, accusing the former ruling party of having relied on appeasement politics.

“You have practised appeasement politics for a long time, and that is why you are in this situation today,” he said.